Penn receives letter from Department of Education condemning anti-Semitism on campuses nationwide

Pennsylvania administrators received a letter Friday morning from U.S. Department of Education Secretary Miguel Cardona condemning “abhorrent” incidents of anti-Semitism on college campuses across the country.

A university spokesperson confirmed that Penn interim president Larry Jameson received Mr. Cardona's letter to multiple presidents on May 3. In his letter, Mr. Cardona cited a “sharp rise in anti-Semitism” over the past few days and highlighted resources to protect safety and security. Incorporation into university campuses.

Although not directly mentioned in the letter, Cardona's timing coincides with the pro-Palestinian encampment that has been set up in front of College Hall since April 25.

A university spokesperson declined further comment on the letter.

“What we are witnessing every day on college campuses is deeply disturbing, with increasing reports of students feeling unsafe,” Cardona wrote in the letter. “Students should be able to learn, attend classes, and attend graduation ceremonies without fear or disruption to their educational experience. There is never a place for violence on campus.”

In his letter, Cardona highlighted four types of anti-Semitism that Jewish students have reported in recent days. These include physical assault and harassment while walking on campus, and “violently anti-Semitic remarks” such as saying that Jewish students should “go back to Poland.” He also wrote that students were verbally abused and returned to their dorm rooms to find swastikas taped to their doors.

The Daily Pennsylvanian could not confirm what, if any, such cases have been reported by University of Pennsylvania students.

Cardona said in the letter that anti-Semitism is discrimination and is prohibited under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and stressed that the Department of Education “stands against anti-Semitism.” He explained that since the Oct. 7, 2023 attack on Israel by Hamas, the Office for Civil Rights has opened more than 100 investigations into anti-Semitism and other forms of discrimination.

“People have the right to peacefully protest policies with which they disagree and, of course, to exercise their First Amendment rights,” Cardona wrote. “However, we cannot tolerate an environment where students feel unsafe or discriminated against on a college campus.”

In his letter, Mr. Cardona also highlighted a variety of resources designed to support university leadership in combating discrimination. These include a fact sheet on protecting students from discrimination, a list of strategies for creating a “safe and inclusive” learning environment during the Israel-Hamas war, and a list of resources for combating anti-Semitism and Islamophobia. Contains a list. Mr. Cardona also encouraged university leaders to visit the Department of Education's website for campus safety support.

Cardona said students from all communities – Jewish, Muslim, Israeli and Arab – have expressed feelings of lack of safety and unfair targeting at school, and that discrimination is “actively ” I vowed to investigate.

“We will continue to work with you to ensure a safe and inclusive learning environment where all students are free to experience the rich learning communities that higher education institutions offer,” he wrote. Ta.