On March 10, the U.S. Department of Education issued letters to 60 universities, including Arizona State University (ASU), warning them of potential “enforcement actions” for failing to protect Jewish students on campus.
This action is tied to their obligations under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination based on race, color, or national origin, including shared ancestry such as Jewish identity.
While the statement did not specify the incidents that triggered the warnings, ASU has been involved in protests related to the Israel-Hamas conflict, with some Jewish students reporting targeted harassment on campus. The university is the only one from Arizona on this list, and if found in violation, it could face serious consequences regarding its federal funding.
“The Department’s OCR sent these letters under its authority to enforce Title VI of the Civil Rights Act (1964), which prohibits any institution that receives federal funds from discriminating on the basis of race, color, and national origin. National origin includes shared (Jewish) ancestry,” read a portion of the statement.
President Donald Trump’s administration launched investigations into antisemitism at five universities including Arizona State on Tuesday, fulfilling commitments made during his campaign to address the rise of anti-Jewish hatred on campuses. The Department of Education will handle the investigations.
“Too many universities have tolerated widespread antisemitic harassment and the illegal encampments that paralyzed campus life last year, driving Jewish life and religious expression underground,” said Craig Trainor, the department’s acting assistant secretary for civil rights. The investigation builds on findings from the House Education and the Workforce Committee, which concluded in an October 31 report that university administrators “overwhelmingly failed” to protect Jewish students as pro-Palestinian protests escalated on U.S. campuses. House Republicans pursued the issue aggressively, while Senate Democrats attempted to downplay concerns.
