The U.S. Department of Education is currently investigating Columbia University for alleged discriminatory treatment of Palestinian students and their supporters.
Palestine Legal, a prominent advocacy group dedicated to promoting Palestinian rights, has taken action by filing a civil rights complaint. This complaint has been filed on behalf of four students and the student group called Columbia Students for Justice in Palestine. The complaint has been submitted to the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR).
Columbia University has chosen not to provide any comment regarding the ongoing investigation. The Department of Education (DOE) has initiated investigations into eight different educational institutions, including Columbia University. These investigations are focused on alleged violations of Title VI, specifically related to shared ancestry discrimination. The DOE began these investigations on April 22, amid escalating nationwide protests. It is worth noting that this is the second investigation into shared ancestry discrimination since the start of the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Shared ancestry cases encompass instances of discrimination where individuals are targeted based on their ancestral background, ethnic attributes, citizenship, or residency in a country with a prominent religious affiliation or unique religious identity. This encompasses various forms of discrimination, such as Islamophobia, antisemitism, and other similar manifestations.
According to the DOE’s website, it is important to note that an investigation into a school does not mean that the OCR has already made a determination on the merits of the complaint.
Palestine Legal has filed a complaint regarding the school’s request for NYPD officers to intervene in campus protests. This request resulted in the arrest of over 100 students who were demonstrating against Israel’s military actions in Gaza.
The complaint goes on to provide more information about instances of discrimination and harassment targeting Palestinian students, Arabs, Muslims, and those who advocate for Palestinians. One notable incident mentioned is an attack on protesters in January, where a “chemical-based weapon” was used.
According to ABC News, during a protest on Friday, the New York Police Department reported that protesters started experiencing symptoms such as a foul odor, nausea, and headaches. Students for Justice in Palestine stated that a number of students had to be hospitalized or seek medical attention after the incident.
Many victims experienced symptoms including vomiting, nausea, chest and abdominal pain, and headaches.
Students have also reported receiving death threats and facing harassment for wearing keffiyehs or hijab. They have been subjected to doxxing, stereotyping, and differential treatment by high-ranking administrators.
Student protesters at Columbia University have set up a camp on campus since April 17th to demand that the university divest financially from companies and institutions that they believe benefit from Israeli apartheid, genocide, and occupation in Palestine. This call for divestment comes from the group Columbia University Apartheid Divest, as stated in an online statement.
As University President Minouche Shafik attended a contentious congressional hearing about antisemitism on Columbia’s campus, the encampment witnessed a significant surge in its numbers.
After the hearing, Columbia University requested that students vacate their encampments. However, when the students refused to comply, the university gave the NYPD permission to remove the protesters. Consequently, the police, equipped with riot gear, arrested over 100 protesters on charges of trespassing.
According to New York City officials, including NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban, the protesters who were arrested were described as peaceful and did not offer any resistance.
Shafik expressed his concerns about the encampment in a statement issued after the protests, stating that it goes against the newly implemented policies. He emphasized that the encampment has had a significant negative impact on campus life and has created an environment that is both harassing and intimidating for many students.
The arrests, along with the increasing number of suspensions faced by students involved in pro-Palestinian protests, have drawn strong condemnation from student demonstrators.
“We refuse to remain silent while Columbia University continues to support companies that profit from death using our tuition dollars and grant money,” stated Columbia University Apartheid Divest.
Tensions have been running high on college campuses across the country since the onset of the Israel-Hamas conflict on October 7th, when Hamas militants launched an invasion of Israel. In response, the Israeli military initiated a bombardment of the Gaza Strip.
According to the Gaza Ministry of Health, Israeli forces have caused the death of over 34,000 individuals and injured more than 77,000 others in the Gaza Strip since October 7th.
According to the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Hamas and other Palestinian militants have caused the deaths of at least 1,700 people in Israel, with 8,700 others being injured since October 7th.
Following the initial wave of arrests, the encampment witnessed a significant expansion as pro-Palestinian demonstrators seized control of a campus hall, resulting in additional arrests.
According to Shafik, the actions of students and outside activists who have been breaking Hamilton Hall doors, mistreating Public Safety officers and maintenance staff, and causing damage to property should be seen as acts of destruction rather than political speech. He also mentioned that these actions have made many students feel uncomfortable and unwelcome, particularly due to the disruptive protests and the presence of antisemitic comments made by certain individuals outside the gates.
Columbia University is facing criticism from various perspectives in relation to the Israel-Gaza war. Additionally, a group of Jewish students has filed a lawsuit against the university, alleging that it failed to uphold its safety protocols by permitting the encampment on campus.
Shafik has faced intense criticism for the way Columbia University has dealt with accusations of antisemitism within its campus.
During the congressional hearing on antisemitism held on April 17, Shafik emphasized the utmost importance of safety on our campus. He stated, “We are committed to taking all necessary measures to ensure the safety of our campus.” While valuing the significance of freedom of speech in our academic mission, Shafik also emphasized the need to address any misuse of this privilege that may lead to harassment and discrimination, which should not be tolerated.
