Arizona State University (ASU) is now under investigation for antisemitic harassment and discrimination.
On Monday, the Department of Education (ED) Office for Civil Rights (OCR) sent letters to ASU and 59 other higher education institutions warning of consequences for any continued failures to protect Jewish students on campus, citing Title VI of the Civil Rights Act.
Title VI of the Civil Rights Act prohibits the submission of federal funding to institutions discriminating on the basis of race, color, and national origin. ED clarified the letters aligned with President Donald Trump’s executive order, “Additional Measures to Combat Antisemitism.”
So far, ED’s Title VI investigative efforts resulted in the cancellation of $400 million in federal grants and contracts to Columbia University. ED dedicated enforcement staff, with priority, to addressing a “backlog of complaints” containing allegations of “antisemitic violence and harassment.”
Newly-confirmed Education Secretary Linda McMahon said “university leaders must do better” to protect their Jewish students, calling taxpayer funding a “privilege” with real contingencies.
“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,” said McMahon in a Monday press release. “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.”
Neither the University of Arizona nor Northern Arizona University received letters.
ASU has taken some steps to mitigate antisemitism on campus, though there remain points of contention for the Jewish community.
The month after the Hamas terrorist attack on Israel, ASU canceled an appearance by pro-Hamas Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib. The move incensed the “Free Palestine” activists.
ASU police also filed charges against those who refused to leave campus during a pro-Hamas protest last April. The university also denied graduation privileges to those arrested for unlawful encampment during protesting. ASU suspended a student group, MECHA de ASU, for advocating for the deaths of boers, pilgrims, zionists, and settlers.
These handlings of the pro-Hamas crowd led Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne to praise the institution and its president, Michael Crow.
However, one of the main conflict-starters remains untouched.
Jen Wright, election lawyer and former Arizona assistant attorney general, questioned whether the Title VI investigation into ASU concerned the employment of one pro-Hamas professor in particular, Khaled Beydoun.
.@ASU is being investigated by @usedgov and @Linda_McMahon
for Title VI violations relating to antisemitic harassment and discrimination.I wonder why?
Cc: @JasonBedrick @bullfrog35 https://t.co/UFO5Sqj11k pic.twitter.com/ntw1PimRVi
— Jen Wright (@JenWEsq) March 10, 2025
Beydoun facilitated a celebration in Australia last October on the one-year anniversary of the Hamas terrorist attack on Israel. Beydoun’s remarks (saying the Hamas attack made October 7 a “good day”) resulted in Australia revoking his visa.
“[This is] not fully a day of mourning, today is also a day that marks considerable celebration, considerable progress, and considerable privilege,” said Beydoun. “I want to talk about some good things because it’s a good day, and we’ve got to mark some of the good news that comes about that we oftentimes neglect.”
ASU defended Beydoun. A spokesperson claimed Beydoun’s remarks were taken out of context.
Following the Hamas terrorist attack, Beydoun pledged all royalties from his book, “The New Crusades: Islamophobia and the Global War on Muslims,” to Gaza.
Tenured liberal cretin professors by the truckload.
They ought to start with deporting anybody here illegally or on a visa if they supported Hamas and denounced the US.
It took years after my daughter graduated from ASU to deprogram her from the Socialist, anti-America nonsense being promoted at ASU. She has finally seen the light and is now a level headed Conservative. Institutions like ASU really need a severe make-over and our new DOJ needs to further purge ASU of any professor or policy reeking of anti-Americanism. Let’s stop graduating students who leave this University with a chip on their shoulder who wish to undermine and destroy a nation who has been so generous to them!
It’s about time…awful racist pigs!
I can understand anti-Israel-ism; I don’t agree with it, but fine, whatever. But I’ve never understood antisemitism. Unlike some cultures that have a non-negligible component of arrogance, entitlement, aggression, violence, and/or death, Jews aren’t exactly stereotyped for their detriment to social order. If anything, they are known for being doctors, lawyers, businessmen, entrepreneurs, artists, bankers, socially tolerant (often eventually to their own detriment), and socially conscientious. If there is any culture that should be imitated it should be that of the Jews, IMHO.
Ah, yes….perhaps there will be some consequences for these idiots that want to threaten and intimidate Jews simply going to class and being on campus. ASU is simply a cesspool that keeps on giving. Woke to the last…..and loving it….