The U.S. Department of Education has opened a civil rights investigation into Haverford College, alleging the school failed to act on antisemitic harassment. Federal officials say Jewish and Israeli students were left unprotected while administrators ignored or dismissed complaints.
The investigation, announced August 20, 2025, follows a formal complaint that Haverford violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. Students reportedly faced repeated antisemitic incidents, but college officials refused to discipline those responsible. Administrators allegedly downplayed the threats and discouraged students from expecting safety on campus.
President Wendy Raymond testified before Congress in May, where she faced bipartisan criticism. She admitted no students had been held accountable for antisemitic behavior and denied any hate speech occurred. In one case, she blamed an antisemitic display on “the wind,” only acknowledging it after public pressure.
Rep. Tim Walberg (R-MI), chairman of the House Education and Workforce Committee, supported the federal probe, accusing the college of allowing antisemitism to spread unchecked. He called for accountability and renewed efforts to defend religious freedom in higher education.
Haverford joins over 60 colleges currently facing scrutiny under the Trump administration’s renewed enforcement of Title VI protections. Similar investigations at Columbia and Harvard led to federal settlements requiring new policies and safeguards for Jewish students.
Antisemitic hate crimes reached record levels in 2024, accounting for nearly 70% of all religion-based attacks. Federal officials warned that while free speech is protected, universities are legally obligated to stop conduct that interferes with students’ access to education based on race or national origin.
The federal government has signaled that failure to act on campus antisemitism will bring legal consequences and potential loss of funding.
