From the Liveblog of
Friday, August 2, 2024
Drexel University agrees to review discrimination complaints policy amid probe of antisemitic incidents
HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania (AP) — Drexel University will review the “shared ancestry” discrimination complaints it has fielded in recent years and work to improve how it handles them under an agreement with the US Department of Education announced this afternoon.
The federal investigation began with a complaint about an October dormitory fire on the door of a suite where a Jewish student lived, but no sufficient evidence has surfaced indicating it was motivated by antisemitism or a hate crime, according to officials.
Drexel University – an observant Jewish student’s dorm room door was set on fire.
No other door was vandalized and the student believed she was targeted due to her outspoken support of Israel.
Police are investigating this as a possible hate crime. pic.twitter.com/ifFDpLiEdg
— StopAntisemitism (@StopAntisemites) October 11, 2023
The probe did turn up what the agency considered shortcomings in how Drexel has responded to a string of 35 other allegations of harassment over Jewish ancestry that were reported to the school over a 16-month period ending in January. Federal officials conclude that a hostile environment has been in place at Drexel for about a year and a half, including anti-Jewish graffiti, social media threats and the vandalism of Drexel’s Center for Jewish life in April.
The investigation is among more than 150 similar probes launched by the US Department of Education regarding campus and K-12 incidents in the wake of Hamas’s Oct 7 attack on Israel that began the ongoing war in Gaza.
“The university’s actions were limited to addressing each incident on an individual basis, including offering supportive resources to students, but did not consider whether broader and more responsive action was needed,” according to a news release issued by the Education Department.
In response, the school has agreed to review complaints and reports of such incidents during the past two academic years, share the information with the federal agency and take action if needed. It also will conduct training and revise policies that guide how incidents of reported discrimination are investigated and addressed.
