The Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights has initiated an investigation into the University of Massachusetts Amherst following a complaint alleging the school’s delayed response to the harassment of Palestinian and Arab students. The complaint, filed under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, details instances of extreme anti-Palestinian and anti-Arab harassment, including racial slurs, death threats, and physical assault. The hostile environment created by these actions targeted Arab and Palestinian students, as well as their allies on campus.
The Education Department’s civil rights division swiftly opened the inquiry in response to the detailed complaint, which highlighted the severity of the situation. The investigation will determine if the university’s handling of harassment complaints and disciplinary actions violated federal civil rights law. Palestine Legal, the legal advocacy group representing the students, emphasized the ongoing nature of the hostile environment on campus.
In recent months, universities nationwide have faced protests and demonstrations calling for a ceasefire in Israel’s war on Gaza and divestment from Israel’s occupation of Palestine. The Department of Education has been increasingly involved in investigating civil rights claims related to these protests. Palestine Legal has filed multiple complaints with the OCR against various universities, including Northwestern Law and the University of North Carolina.
Former Department of Education political appointee Tariq Habash criticized universities’ crackdown on anti-war protests, linking it to the discrimination faced by students. He highlighted the need for creating safe and inclusive environments to prevent discrimination rather than enabling and normalizing it.
The complaint against UMass Amherst detailed targeted harassment incidents dating back to October, including threats, intimidation, and online abuse directed at Arab and Palestinian students. The university’s slow response to these incidents, coupled with its failure to condemn anti-Palestinian behavior, exacerbated the hostile environment on campus.
The complaint also addressed mass arrests of student protesters conducting sit-in demonstrations, disciplinary actions taken against them, and restrictions placed on studying abroad. The students faced challenges in seeking institutional support and protection against harassment, with delays in implementing anti-harassment measures despite evidence provided to administrators.
University leadership’s expressions of solidarity with Israel, participation in events with organizations like the Anti-Defamation League, and crackdown on student protests raised concerns about bias and discrimination. The students felt unsupported by the administration and took matters into their own hands to seek protection against further harassment.
The investigation into UMass Amherst highlights the importance of addressing anti-Palestinian bias and discrimination on college campuses. It underscores the need for universities to create inclusive environments that protect all students from harassment and discrimination based on their ethnicity or nationality. The outcome of the OCR inquiry will determine if corrective actions are necessary to ensure a safe and welcoming campus environment for all students.