By STEVEN HERBERT | City News Service
USC pledged Tuesday to share “everything we have done to create a welcoming and non-discriminatory campus environment for all members of our community,” in a university statement responding to a letter from the Department of Education.
USC, Pomona College, Santa Monica College and Chapman University were among 60 colleges and universities nationwide receiving letters Monday informing them of their need to fulfill their obligations under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act which prohibits any institution receiving federal funds from discriminating on the basis of race, color, and national origin, including uninterrupted access to campus facilities and educational opportunities, the Department of Education announced Monday.
National origin includes shared Jewish ancestry.
“The university has publicly and unequivocally denounced antisemitism in all its forms, and has taken strong actions to protect all of our students — including members of our Jewish community — from illegal discrimination of any kind,” the USC statement said. “USC is proud to enroll one of the largest Jewish student bodies in the country.”
An 11-day pro-Palestinian campus occupation occurred at USC from April 24-May 5, 2024, with the Los Angeles Police Department arresting 93 people on the first night of the protest and USC closing off campus to the general public.
USC was among 10 universities notified Feb. 28 by the Department of Justice that it will be visited by the Federal Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism following allegations “that the schools may have failed to protect Jewish students and faculty members from unlawful discrimination, in potential violation of federal law.”
Pomona College “will cooperate fully” the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights’ investigation into whether it violated Jewish students’ civil rights, a spokeswoman told City News Service Tuesday.
“The college is firmly committed to assuring the right of all our students to a Pomona education, including taking every appropriate step to prevent antisemitism and all forms of shared ancestry discrimination and harassment,” Patricia Vest, Pomona College’s interim chief communications officer, said in an email to City News Service.
“Furthermore, we will continue to work on concrete steps and will implement additional actions to support our Jewish students and ensure their uninterrupted access to higher education on our campus.”
Santa Monica College issued a statement to City News Service Monday night saying “the U.S. Department of Education opened three investigations concerning allegations of antisemitism at Santa Monica College. The college responded to Case No. 09-24-2053, on Jan. 8, 2024 with a supplemental response on March 11, 2024; to Case No. 09-24-2248 on July 8, 2024; and to Case No. 09-24-2438 on Nov. 18, 2024.
“In the college’s responses, we outlined in a great detail the college’s full compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. We have not as yet received any determination from the Office of Civil Rights on any of these investigations.
“Santa Monica College remains committed to upholding a culture of inclusivity, where open dialog and respectful exchange of ideas can take place. Through professional development, mental and emotional health support for the college community, and other measures, the college has sought to build bridges and ensure students and colleagues are aware of their rights.
“SMC stands against antisemitism, just as the college stands against all forms of discrimination and hate.”
A Santa Monica College spokeswoman confirmed Monday night it has received the letter.
There was no immediate response to an email sent after the close of customary business hours Monday to Chapman University seeking comment.
“The department is deeply disappointed that Jewish students studying on elite U.S. campuses continue to fear for their safety amid the relentless antisemitic eruptions that have severely disrupted campus life for more than a year. University leaders must do better,” said Secretary of Education Linda McMahon said in a statement Monday in connection with the release of the list of colleges and universities receiving the letter.
“U.S. colleges and universities benefit from enormous public investments funded by U.S. taxpayers. That support is a privilege and it is contingent on scrupulous adherence to federal antidiscrimination laws.”
Other universities the federal task force plans to visit are UCLA, Columbia University; George Washington University; Harvard University; Johns Hopkins University; New York University; Northwestern University; UC Berkeley; and the University of Minnesota.
The Departments of Justice, Health and Human Services, Education and the U.S. General Services Administration on Friday announced the immediate cancellation of approximately $400 million in federal grants and contracts to Columbia University due to what the Department of Education called “the school’s continued inaction in the face of persistent harassment of Jewish students.”