US Education Department Probes Top Universities for Alleged Antisemitism and Islamophobia

The US federal government has launched civil rights investigations into seven schools and universities, including Ivy League institutions Columbia, Cornell, and the University of Pennsylvania, over allegations of antisemitism or Islamophobia since the Israel-Hamas war outbreak. The Education Department aims to take aggressive action against discrimination, and schools found in violation of civil rights law could face penalties, including a loss of federal funding. Five investigations are in response to allegations of antisemitic harassment, while two are in response to allegations of anti-Muslim harassment. The investigations are part of the Biden administration's efforts to address discrimination on campuses.