Education Department probing Columbia University over protests, treatment of Jewish students

Education Secretary Miguel Cardona on Tuesday said his department has opened an investigation into Columbia University for potential violations of civil rights laws amid pro-Palestinian protests and danger to Jewish students.

Mr. Cardona said that’s one of 137 open investigations his department has into violations of Title 6 of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which requires schools that take federal money to provide a safe environment for students. Under current policy, that includes taking steps to combat antisemitism.

He said if schools are found to have failed under the terms of the law and refuse to implement fixes, they could lose federal funding.

“The antisemitism we’ve seen on campuses is unacceptable,” he said.

Columbia is perhaps the most visible flashpoint, with students Tuesday occupying a school building and the college going into a shutdown, with only resident students and essential employees allowed entry.

The students who occupied Hamilton Hall declared they renamed it Hind’s Hall, in honor of a Palestinian girl they declared a “martyr” of “the genocidal Israeli state.”

Mr. Cardona told senators he doesn't have any investigators or any other staff on scene at Columbia, which seemed to surprise the lawmakers.

Schools across the country are dealing with protests, encampments and angry words aimed at Jewish students.

In addition to the investigations, Mr. Cardona said he’s offering schools best practices advice on the department’s website.

Mr. Cardona was testifying to the Senate Appropriations Committee on President Biden’s 2025 budget for the department.