The U.S. Department of Education has initiated federal civil rights investigations into San Jose State University and San Francisco State University, citing allegations that both institutions failed to adequately address antisemitism and protect Jewish students from harassment.
The investigations, opened by the Department’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR), will examine whether the universities violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by permitting a hostile environment for Jewish students. This action is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to address antisemitism on college campuses following the Oct. 7 attacks on Israel.
Complaints filed with OCR allege that Jewish students at San Jose State faced threats, isolation, and a climate of fear, with instances of anti-Israel protests disrupting classes and allegedly leading to physical altercations. One specific allegation details an email from a university official that reportedly differentiated between "good Jews" and "bad Jews" based on their stance regarding the Israeli government.
San Francisco State University faces similar accusations, with complaints detailing antisemitic graffiti, attempted break-ins targeting Jewish students, and campus events hosted by the Arab and Muslim Ethnicities and Diasporas program that allegedly featured individuals with ties to designated terrorist groups. The General Union of Palestine Students, identified by federal officials as a branch of the Palestine Liberation Organization, is noted as maintaining its student chapter at the university.
Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Kimberly Richey stated that discrimination has no place on college campuses and that the department will investigate these allegations to ensure the safety of Jewish students and protect their right to an education free from discrimination. The department asserts that both universities allegedly neglected to respond meaningfully to repeated reports of antisemitic harassment.
These investigations add to existing legal challenges for San Jose State University. Earlier this year, OCR found the university in violation of Title IX for allowing male athletes to compete in women's sports and use female-only facilities, which the department ruled denied women equal educational opportunities. The university was subsequently warned of potential loss of federal funding for non-compliance.
The actions align with a Jan. 29, 2025, executive order by President Trump, which directs the U.S. to combat antisemitism vigorously through all available legal means. Title VI of the Civil Rights Act prohibits federally funded schools from discriminating based on race, color, or national origin, including by fostering hostile environments that impede students' equal access to education.