Jewish Faculty and Staff at University of Michigan Urge Action Against Weaponization of Antisemitism

In an open letter to University of Michigan President Santa J. Ono, a group of Jewish faculty and staff expressed deep concern over the growing trend of weaponizing antisemitism in American politics, particularly within higher education. The letter, signed by diverse members of the Jewish community at the university, calls for actions to protect academic freedom and prevent discrimination under the guise of combating antisemitism.

The signatories—representing a wide range of political beliefs, areas of expertise, and perspectives on Israel and Palestine—highlight that while antisemitism is a real and pressing issue, it is increasingly being used as a tool to target individuals on college campuses. These actions, they argue, threaten the fundamental mission of universities as places of free inquiry and open dialogue.

The letter specifically addresses concerns about how the Trump administration has politicized antisemitism, citing the administration’s cuts to the Department of Education and its appointments of individuals who have tolerated or celebrated antisemitic views. "If the administration was serious about fighting antisemitism, it wouldn't have cut half of the Department of Education, including the Office of Civil Rights that is responsible for fighting antisemitism on campus," said Regent Mark Bernstein in the letter.

The signatories urge President Ono to take several actions to ensure the university's commitment to free speech, including:

1. Not cooperating with attempts by immigration authorities to harass or deport students and staff for their political expression, including anti-Zionist views.

2. Rejecting efforts to equate constitutionally protected political speech with discrimination.

3. Extending protections against discrimination to all marginalized groups.

4. Not sharing personal information of community members for ideological targeting.

5. Defending the rights of all community members, even those with whom one may disagree.

The faculty and staff also express a call for solidarity, reminding the university leadership that safeguarding marginalized communities benefits the entire academic community. Their plea is rooted in core Jewish values of engaging in constructive disagreement and standing up for the vulnerable.

As part of their ongoing advocacy, a small group of Jewish faculty and staff has requested a meeting with President Ono to discuss these concerns and explore how the University of Michigan can continue to lead in protecting academic freedom and promoting an inclusive environment for all.

This letter underscores the ongoing debate over the intersection of political expression, academic freedom, and the protection of marginalized communities, issues that are increasingly critical in higher education today.

US Department of Education accuses 60 universities of antisemitism. Here's the list of those publicly threatened.

U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights Sends Letters to 60 Universities Under Investigation for Antisemitic Discrimination and Harassment

Letters warn of potential enforcement actions if institutions do not fulfill their obligations under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act to protect Jewish students on campus.

March 10, 2025 

WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) sent letters to 60 institutions of higher education warning them of potential enforcement actions if they do not fulfill their obligations under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act to protect Jewish students on campus, including uninterrupted access to campus facilities and educational opportunities. The letters are addressed to all U.S. universities that are presently under investigation for Title VI violations relating to antisemitic harassment and discrimination. 

“The Department is deeply disappointed that Jewish students studying on elite U.S. campuses continue to fear for their safety amid the relentless antisemitic eruptions that have severely disrupted campus life for more than a year. University leaders must do better,” said Secretary of Education Linda McMahon. “U.S. colleges and universities benefit from enormous public investments funded by U.S. taxpayers. That support is a privilege and it is contingent on scrupulous adherence to federal antidiscrimination laws.”  

The schools that received letters from the Office for Civil Rights include:  

1. American University 
2. Arizona State University 
3. Boston University 
4. Brown University 
5. California State University, Sacramento 
6. Chapman University 
7. Columbia University 
8. Cornell University 
9. Drexel University 
10. Eastern Washington University 
11. Emerson College 
12. George Mason University 
13. Harvard University 
14. Illinois Wesleyan University 
15. Indiana University, Bloomington 
16. Johns Hopkins University 
17. Lafayette College 
18. Lehigh University 
19. Middlebury College 
20. Muhlenberg College 
21. Northwestern University 
22. Ohio State University 
23. Pacific Lutheran University     
24. Pomona College 
25. Portland State University 
26. Princeton University 
27. Rutgers University 
28. Rutgers University-Newark
29. Santa Monica College 
30. Sarah Lawrence College 
31. Stanford University 
32. State University of New York Binghamton 
33. State University of New York Rockland 
34. State University of New York, Purchase 
35. Swarthmore College 
36. Temple University 
37. The New School 
38. Tufts University 
39. Tulane University 
40. Union College 
41. University of California Davis 
42. University of California San Diego 
43. University of California Santa Barbara 
44. University of California, Berkeley
45. University of Cincinnati 
46. University of Hawaii at Manoa 
47. University of Massachusetts Amherst 
48. University of Michigan 
49. University of Minnesota, Twin Cities 
50. University of North Carolina 
51. University of South Florida 
52. University of Southern California 
53. University of Tampa 
54. University of Tennessee 
55. University of Virginia 
56. University of Washington-Seattle 
57. University of Wisconsin, Madison 
58. Wellesley College 
59. Whitman College 
60. Yale University 

Background: 

The Department’s OCR sent these letters under its authority to enforce Title VI of the Civil Rights Act (1964), which prohibits any institution that receives federal funds from discriminating on the basis of race, color, and national origin. National origin includes shared (Jewish) ancestry. 

Pursuant to Title VI and in furtherance of President Trump’s Executive Order “Additional Measures to Combat Antisemitism,” the Department launched directed investigations into five universities where widespread antisemitic harassment has been reported. The 55 additional universities are under investigation or monitoring in response to complaints filed with OCR. Last week, the Department, alongside fellow members of the Joint Task Force to Combat Antisemitism including the Department of Justice, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the U.S. General Services Administration, announced the immediate cancelation of $400 million in federal grants and contracts to Columbia University due to the school’s continued inaction to protect Jewish students from discrimination. Last Friday, OCR directed its enforcement staff to make resolving the backlog of complaints alleging antisemitic violence and harassment, many which were allowed to languish unresolved under the previous administration, an immediate priority.

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