US says two universities fell short in addressing antisemitic hate

The University of Michigan and the City University of New York have fallen short in addressing recent incidents of antisemitic or anti-Arab nature, the US Education Department says.

The department also reached resolutions with both universities over complaints of such incidents. The schools agreed to take some steps like reopening some past complaints, reporting their results to the government, training personnel on how to respond to claims of discrimination and conducting more surveys to assess such discriminatory experiences, the Education Department says in a statement.

These mark the first probes to be concluded among the several that have been launched by the department since October 7, when Palestinian terror group Hamas committed its onslaught in Israel, prompting the ongoing war in Gaza. Some probes have involved incidents from before the war began.

The Education Department says the universities have not complied with the requirement to remedy a hostile environment.

The universities confirm the resolution agreement and say they oppose all kinds of discrimination and harassment.

Advocacy groups say that incidents of hate and bias against Jews in the United States have skyrocketed amid the war. Incidents are also said to have increased against Muslims, Arabs and Palestinians.