On March 10, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) sent letters to over 60 universities, including UC San Diego, to formally warn potential enforcement of consequences on the universities’ alleged violations of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. The universities who received these letters are under present investigation to verify allegations of antisemitic activity on their campuses. UC Davis, UC Berkeley, and UC Santa Barbara, are also among the schools that received this formal issuance. The letters have not been made public.

Following the release of these letters, the DOE wrote a news media release to disclose the issuance of these letters. The statement further restates universities’ obligation under Title VI. Title VI of the Civil Rights Act prohibits federally funded institutions from discriminating on the basis of race, color, or national origin. Title VI conditions these institutions’ funding on their ability to uphold this condition. The media release emphasizes national origin under Title VI includes “shared [Jewish] ancestry.”

“Potential enforcement actions [will be applied] if [these universities] do not fulfill their obligations under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act to protect Jewish students on campus,” the statement reads. It suggests specifically that these allegations relate to universities not fulfilling their duty to ensure “uninterrupted access to campus facilities and educational opportunities” for their Jewish student populations.

According to this same statement, the 60 universities who received letters are presently under investigation “for Title VI violations relating to antisemitic harassment and discrimination”. No details have been released on the nature of these investigations. UC Berkeley, Columbia University, the University of Minnesota, Northwestern University, and Portland State University, had already been under investigation by the DOE since Feb. 28.

While no particular enforcement actions have been named, the DOE is able to cut off federal financial assistance to any federally funded institution found responsible for violating Title VI. Financial assistance  includes federal grants, contracts, and other financial aid programs that support university operations, research, and student assistance.The Department of Justice can pursue other enforcements, including threatening litigation to ensure the institution meets its duties under federal law.  

In response to The UCSD Guardian’s request for comment on this letter, Matt Nagel the Chief Communications and Marketing Officer at UCSD directed the question to Omar Rodriguez, Senior Media Relations Officer at the University of California Office of the President. In response, Rodriguez sent a written statement on March 17, stating the university’s response to this warning.

“We want to be clear: the University of California is unwavering in its commitment to combating antisemitism and protecting the civil rights of all our students, faculty, staff, and visitors,” the statement read. “We continue to take specific steps to foster an environment free of antisemitism and other forms of discrimination and harassment for everyone in the university community.”