The U.S. Department of Education has warned Arizona State University and 59 other institutions about concerns of antisemitic discrimination and harassment on campuses. The warning emphasizes the need to protect Jewish students under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination based on race, color, or national origin, including Jewish ancestry. Arizona State University inclusion follows April 2024 protests related to the Israel-Hamas conflict, where several arrests were made for trespassing. A student, Aleeza Feffer, reported being harassed for wearing a shirt celebrating her Jewish identity, according to FOX 10 Phoenix.
The Trump administration previously addressed antisemitism in education, with President Trump signing an executive order to combat the issue. Education Secretary Linda McMahon referred to the protests as "attacks" on Jewish students and faculty during a CNBC interview. In a CNN report, McMahon stated that Trump "has been incredibly clear that he is not going to tolerate that kind of attacks on campuses and that he will defund those universities."
Columbia University lost $400 million in federal funding following accusations of antisemitism tied to a campus protest. A Palestinian activist detained in connection with the incident was temporarily protected from deportation by a federal judge. The Department of Education is prioritizing civil rights complaints related to antisemitism and may take enforcement actions against 60 universities, including Columbia and Harvard, as mentioned by CNN.
