North Charlotte Today

Senator Thom Tillis and several of his colleagues have written a letter to U.S. Department of Education Secretary Miguel Cardona, calling on him to take action to protect Jewish college students in the face of increasing antisemitic incidents on college campuses. The rise in these incidents comes in the aftermath of Hamas' recent deadly attacks on Israel.

In their letter, the senators emphasized that under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Department of Education has a responsibility to ensure that university programs or activities, which receive federal funds, do not discriminate against students. However, they expressed concern that the Department has not taken noticeable action in response to the rise in antisemitic incidents.

The senators are urging the Biden administration to utilize their enforcement power under Title VI to ensure that colleges and universities uphold their responsibilities in maintaining a safe learning environment for Jewish students. They specifically want to protect these students from antisemitic harassment and attacks.

In the letter, the senators highlighted some of the disturbing incidents that have occurred on college campuses. They mentioned acts of vandalism, arson, and professors engaging in discriminatory actions towards Jewish students. They provided specific examples such as a Jewish student's dorm room door being set on fire at Drexel University, the writing of "Free Palestine" in shaving cream below the Israeli flag of the Jewish fraternity Alpha Epsilon Pi at Georgia Tech, and a professor at Stanford University encouraging Jewish students to stand alone in a corner as an "academic" exercise to allegedly showcase how Israel treats Palestinians. Additionally, they mentioned a social media post by a professor and faculty advisor at the University of California Davis that appeared to call for harm to Zionist journalists and their children.

The senators concluded their letter by expressing their desire for an update from Secretary Cardona on the efforts to combat antisemitism and enforce Title VI. They emphasized the need for the Department and colleges and universities that receive federal financial assistance to protect Jewish students in the same capacity as other legally protected classes.

With rising antisemitism on college campuses, it is crucial for the Biden administration and the Department of Education to take decisive action to ensure the safety and well-being of Jewish students. The senators' letter serves as a reminder of the importance of upholding the principles of equality and non-discrimination in education.

For additional details, please follow this link: https://www.tillis.senate.gov/2023/10/tillis-colleagues-urge-biden-administration-to-protect-jewish-students-amid-rising-antisemitism-on-college-campuses