Trump administration investigates University of Minnesota, dozens of other colleges, over alleged antisemitism
MINNEAPOLIS — The federal government is looking into allegations of antisemitism on the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities campus.
The University of Minnesota is one of dozens of colleges under investigation by the U.S. Department of Education.
The Department of Education says that "widespread antisemitic harassment has been reported" at the University of Minnesota and four other universities where investigations were initially announced.
In a letter to University President Rebecca Cunningham on Feb. 3, the Department of Education cites a student newspaper article that says anti-Israel protesters tried "to instill fear into the Jewish...community" and a student allegedly "had hot coffee thrown at them simply because people thought he was Jewish," among other incidents.
On Monday, the federal agency said it sent another letter to 60 schools now under investigation, warning they could face penalties if they don't comply with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act to protect Jewish students on campus.
The Trump administration on March 7 canceled $400 million in grants to Columbia University, another school under investigation.
Rabbi Yitzi Steiner with Chabad at the University of Minnesota says Department of Education officials contacted him in late January asking for his perspective.
Steiner says he works to combat antisemitism by encouraging Jewish students to "stand tall and strong and proud" and by reaching out to campus groups to help educate all students about why antisemitism awareness matters.
"The same way that they care about Black Lives Matter, and the same way they care about any minority group, they should care that Jewish people are being vilified," Steiner said.
Steiner says he's surprised that the University of Minnesota was included in the five schools originally announced as being investigated.
"Are there instances that have happened over the course of last school year? Yes, there are, but I think the same thing was going on on many campuses," he said.
The University of Minnesota sent WCCO an updated statement Tuesday:
"Like many other universities, we received a letter from the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights on Monday, March 10 reminding the University of its obligations under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. The letter included reference to "directed investigations into five universities." The University is among those five institutions and received notice of that investigation on Monday, February 3. The March 10 letter does not change anything from that February 3 notice. As we said at that time, we are confident in our approach to combating hate and bias on our campus and will fully cooperate with this investigation. The University continues to stand firmly against antisemitism. We have and will continue to respond promptly and fully to any reports of harassment, intimidation, or bias against Jewish students — or any other members of our University community — in accordance with our University values, our own policies, and our responsibility under the law."
WCCO has requested an updated statement from the university in response to Monday's announcement.
Steiner praised university leadership for facing antisemitism head-on.
"This administration is working a lot harder on ensuring that their stance is very clear, not letting everybody hear what they want to hear," he said.
Last month, the Department of Education said it would begin requesting access to school data and personnel. Also, in late February, the U.S. Department of Justice announced that the Federal Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism will be visiting the University of Minnesota and nine other universities that have "experienced incidents of antisemitism."
A University of Minnesota law professor and a former regent filed a federal antisemitism complaint against the university in 2023.
That professor told WCCO on Feb. 4 that he hadn't had contact with investigators since Donald Trump became president.
Minnesota Hillel said in a statement, "University of Minnesota, Twin Cities must be a safe and welcoming campus for all students, including Jewish students. We hope this investigation, along with other initiatives already underway such as the University's participation in Hillel's Campus Climate Initiative, will continue to improve the campus climate for Jewish Gophers. Along with building strong and vibrant Jewish life on campus at Minnesota Hillel, the entire campus community, including the university administration, has a critical role to play in countering antisemitism and all forms of hate."
NOTE: The featured video is from Feb. 4, 2025.
