Washington (AP) -The Trump government opens up modern investigations into anti -Semitism at five US universities, including Columbia and the University of California, Berkeley, announced the educational department on Monday.
It is part of President Donald Trump’s promise to take a harder attitude against campus anti -Semitism and to rule out tougher punishments as the government of former President Joe Biden, who has populated a flood of cases with universities in recent weeks. The modern investigations were opened on the same day when the Ministry of Justice announced a modern task force to eradicate anti -Semitism on College Campus.
In a command signed last week, Trump called for aggressive measures to combat anti-Jewish prejudices on campus, including the deportation of foreign students who took part in Pro-Palestinian protests.
In addition to Columbia and Berkeley, the department is now examining the University of Minnesota, Northwestern University and Portland State University. With the powers of the department, the cases were opened to start their own civil rights reviews, in contrast to most investigations that result from complaints.
In a statement by the educational department, the universities for the toleration of anti -Semitism after the Hamas from October 7, 2023, attacked Israel and a wave of Propalestinian protests criticized. In addition, the bidges administration criticized for the negotiation of “toothless” resolutions that the schools could not hold into account.
“Today, the departments, universities, universities and K-12 schools are committed to the knowledge: This administration will not tolerate the continued institutional indifference to the well-being of Jewish students at American locations”.
The department did not give any details about the inquiries or how it decided which schools are targeted. The President Columbia and northwest were among the professions to testify last year on the Capitol Hill when the Republicans requested the accountability obligation for allegations of anti -Semitism under protests against Israel’s air strikes in Gaza. The scale hearings contributed to the resignation of several university presidents, including in Columbia’s Minouche Shafik.
A report in October by the Republicans in October, accused of Columbia, Pro-Palestinian students who have taken over a campus building, did not punish, and described Northwestern’s negotiations with student demonstrators as “breathtaking surrender”.
Since the outcry on the protests of the campus, the universities have committed that they have taken several steps to tackle anti -Semitism.
In Northwestern, this contains updates from the student code of behavior and the disciplinary procedure as well as in the investment in public security, said spokesman Jon Yates in an e -mail. “Free expression and academic freedom are among our basic values, but we have clarified that these values do not apologize for behaviors that threatens the well -being of others,” said Yates.
Columbia has strengthened and clarified his discipline process, says a statement, and his interim president Katrina Armstrong has strengthened the Office for Public Security and set up an office for institutional justice in order to tackle discrimination and harassment. “Columbia expressly condemns anti -Semitism and all forms of discrimination, and we are determined that the demand, promotion or glorification of violence or terror at our university has no place,” says the university’s explanation.
The modern investigation, the spokeswoman for the US state, said Swordfisk, concerns: “In itself, no proof of violations”, since the Ministry of Education apparently initiated it without receiving a complaint from someone at the university. Portland State plans to work with the department. “The university continues to support and commit to combating anti -Semitism and reducing the effects of hatred and bias,” said Swordfisk in an e -mail.
House Republicans applauded the modern investigation. Rep. Tim Walberg, chairman of the educational and staff committee, said that he was (*5*)
Trump’s command also calls for a complete review of the anti -Semitism complaints submitted to the educational department since October 7, 2023, including pending and dissolved cases of bidges. It encourages the Ministry of Justice to take measures to enforce civil rights laws.
The order of last week led to civil rights groups, which said that they violated the rights of first change that protect political speech.
The modern Task Force announced on Monday and includes the judicial and educational departments as well as health and human services.
“The department assumes our responsibility seriously to eliminate this hatred everywhere,” said Leo Terrell, deputy attorney in General for Civil Rights. Ending anti -Semitism in our schools. “
___
The educational cover of Associated Press receives financial support from several private foundations. The AP is only responsible for all content. Find the standards of AP for working with philanthropias, a list of supporters and financed coverage areas at Ap.org.
