The Department of Education sent a warning to the accreditor of the University of Columbia on Wednesday, saying that the Ivy League institution violated federal laws against discrimination.
Secretary of Education of the United States, said Linda McMahon in a Press release That the decision occurred after the series of protests on university lands that oppose the Israel-Ahamas war in Gaza.
McMahon claimed that Columbia’s leadership “acted with deliberate indifference towards the harassment of Jewish students on their campus.”
“This is not only immoral, but also illegal,” McMahon said.
The members of the Faculty of the University of Columbia have a protest in support of Palestine and for freedom of expression at the Campus of the University of Columbia on November 15, 2023 in New York City. The University suspended two student organizations, students of justice in Palestine and Jewish voices for peace, for violating university policies. The tense atmosphere in many university campuses has increased as groups of students, activists and others have protested both Israel and Palestine (photo of Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
Spencer Platt/Getty Images
Columbia is accused of violating title VI of the Civil Rights Law of 1964, which prohibits the beneficiaries of federal funds to discriminate based on race, color or national origin, according to the department.
The department said that in violating federal laws against discrimination, Columbia has not complied with the accreditation standards established by the Midros states Higher Education Commission.
The accreditation process determines which schools are eligible for loans and financial aid. The measure could have mass implications for schools and universities, since education experts suggest that eliminates protections for students.
The Government states that Columbia’s leadership failed to take several measures, including not establishing effective reports for anti -Semitism until the summer of 2024, not fulfilling their own policies and procedures by responding to the complaints of Jewish students and governing misconduct against Jewish students and not investigating or punishing vandalism in their classes.
Now, the federal accredator of the University must establish a plan to comply with the federal law or “take appropriate measures against” Columbia, the department said.
In a statement to ABC News on Wednesday, a spokesman from Columbia University said the institution is “deeply committed to the fight against anti -Semitism on our campus.”
“We took this problem seriously and continue working with the federal government to address it,” added the spokesman.
This spring, Trump signed an executive order aimed at reviewing the higher education accreditation system and asking McMahon to hold the “accrediters.” Its administration has taken measures to “vigorously” fighting anti -Semitism in university campuses, including the elimination of columbia of $ 400 million in subsidies and education contracts.
This is the last action of the administration taken against prominent universities.
Last month, the Trump administration announced and then retreated the decision to ban Harvard University to allow international students to enroll in the university.
Harvard is also fighting the president’s attempt to freeze more than $ 2.2 billion in subsidies and $ 60 million in school contracts. Harvard filed a separate lawsuit to challenge the freezing of funds in April, and the next hearing in that case is scheduled for July.
Trump has previously expressed interest in revoking the university taxes.
Arthur Jones II of ABC News contributed to this report.
