The Biden administration has opened an ethnic discrimination investigation at Rutgers University, making it one of the latest schools under federal scrutiny since the Israel-Hamas war began in October.
The U.S. Department of Education opened the investigation Monday, adding the public university in New Jersey to its list of schools under federal scrutiny. Like many other universities, Rutgers has faced criticism in recent weeks for its response to antisemitism following the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks on Israel.
Other schools on the DOE list include Harvard, Stanford and New York City's education department. The move also follows the resignation of University of Pennsylvania President Liz Magill after criticism of her response to questions from House lawmakers about antisemitism on campus. The presidents of Harvard and MIT also faced backlash for their responses during a lengthy grilling by the House Education Committee.
The DOE's list said the location of the Rutgers investigation is Newark, where the university has a campus. But it did not specify the nature of the investigation, and the agency declined to comment.
"We have received notice that an investigation has been opened of the university’s response to alleged incidents in October and November of 2023. The notice provides no further details, but we will certainly fully cooperate," Rutgers spokesperson Dory Devlin said in a statement.
"Rutgers stands against antisemitism and against hate in all its pernicious forms," Devlin added. "The university strives to be a safe and supportive environment for all our students, faculty, and staff. We reject absolutely intolerance based on religion, national origin, race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, ability, or political views."
Last week, Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.) sent a letter to university president Jonathan Holloway expressing "strong concerns" about a school-sponsored event on "race, liberation and Palestine" featuring two speakers Gottheimer called "notorious antisemites." Gottheimer also cited in his letter the school's Students for Justice in Palestine chapter labeling the October attacks as "justified retaliation" and a Rutgers student being charged after allegedly posting threats on social media to kill an Israeli student.
"The first amendment does not give students the right to bully, intimidate, and instill fear onto other students," Gottheimer wrote. "If the University’s goal is to promote mutual understanding and bring students together, it will fail so long as antisemites and anti-Israel advocates are given a sanctioned platform on your campus to promote hatred."
Two university graduates also reportedly pulled their donations to the school for its response to antisemitism on campus.
The Biden administration has sought to respond to an "alarming" nationwide increase of antisemitism, anti-Muslim and anti-Arab discrimination on college campuses and in K-12 schools. Last month it announced several schools the DOE is investigating for alleged "shared ancestry violations" of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Schools that receive federal funds must comply with Title VI, a federal law that bars discrimination based on shared ancestry, ethnic characteristics or national origin.
"Hate has no place in our schools, period. When students are targeted because they are — or are perceived to be — Jewish, Muslim, Arab, Sikh, or any other ethnicity or shared ancestry, schools must act to ensure safe and inclusive educational environments where everyone is free to learn,” Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona said in a statement.
