The U.S. Education Department has opened a civil rights investigation into Columbia University following a complaint by Palestinian students and their allies. The complaint alleges discrimination in violation of federal law, specifically violating Title VI regulations that prohibit discrimination based on race, color, or national origin and retaliation against students based on those factors. The students claim they have been targeted with anti-Palestinian, anti-Arab, and Islamophobic harassment by school administrators after speaking out and protesting against Israel’s war in Gaza that began in October. They have received death threats, been subjected to doxxing, and harassed for wearing hijabs or keffiyehs, while university President Minouche Shafik has failed to respond promptly.
The Education Department stated that schools that intentionally violate Title VI regulations can be required to create certain policy requirements or face penalties that affect federal funding. The department may also assist in mediating an agreement between the parties involved. The agency has opened two other investigations into Columbia University, although it is unclear whether they are related to the recent campus unrest. Both the Education Department and Columbia have declined to comment on the ongoing investigations. The civil rights complaint filed by Palestine Legal was made prior to the events on campus, including the deadline given to students to vacate a tent encampment and the subsequent occupation of the administration building before mass arrests were conducted.
Following the escalation of events on campus, which included mass arrests and a tense showdown at Hamilton Hall, University President Shafik stated that the ongoing demonstrations were creating a disruptive environment and raising safety risks to an intolerable level. A class action lawsuit has been filed in the Southern District of New York by Jewish students against the university, accusing them of violating safety protocols and allowing extremist protesters to intimidate students. University officials have not commented on the lawsuit, but Shafik emphasized the school’s commitment to making Columbia a safe environment for everyone. The lawsuit and civil rights complaint highlight the strained relations on U.S. college campuses related to the conflict between Israel and Hamas.
One of the students named in Palestine Legal’s complaint, Layla Saliba, emphasized the urgency of the situation following the opening of the Education Department’s investigation. Saliba expressed concern about the unwelcoming environment created by Columbia for Palestinian students, noting that expressing views against bombings by one’s relatives should not be controversial. Another student named in the complaint, Maryam Alwan, revealed that she was suspended following her arrest last month during the police response to the encampments on campus. Over 100 people were arrested and issued summonses for trespassing during the events. The actions by the Education Department and the complaints filed by Palestinian and Jewish students at Columbia University reflect the complex dynamics and challenges faced by universities in addressing civil rights and safety concerns amid conflicts and protests.
