Department of Education opens probes into alleged antisemitic and Islamophobic incidents at universities
The Department of Education has opened investigations into alleged antisemitic and Islamophobic incidents at a half dozen U.S. colleges and a local school district.
WASHINGTON — The Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights opened investigations this week into alleged antisemitic and Islamophobic incidents at a half dozen U.S. colleges and universities and a local school district.
The schools include Cornell University, Columbia University, the University of Pennsylvania, Lafayette College, Wellesley College, the Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art and the Maize Unified School District in Kansas.
Five of the complaints that the department received involving the schools allege antisemitic harassment and two allege anti-Muslim harassment, according to the Department of Education. The department did not immediately respond to NBC News' request for additional details.
The schools are being investigated for alleged violations of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination based on race or national origin, including shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics, the department said.
"All colleges, and universities and K-12 schools receiving federal funds must comply with Title VI," the department said in a release detailing the investigations. "Schools that violate the law and refuse to address the problems identified by OCR can ultimately lose federal funding or be referred to the U.S. Department of Justice for further action."
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