AMHERST — Alleging there has been antisemitic discrimination and harassment at 60 colleges and universities across the country, including at the University of Massachusetts campus in Amherst, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights is warning of potential enforcement actions, according to a letter sent on Monday.

UMass is among those being advised to fulfill its obligations, under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, to protect Jewish students on campus so that they have “uninterrupted access to campus facilities and educational opportunities.”

The letters went to all colleges and universities currently under investigation for possible Title VI violations related to antisemitic harassment and discrimination, and directs them to “take all lawful and appropriate measures to protect Jewish students, faculty and staff from the predations of antisemitic antagonists, whether in the classroom, on campus, or within educational programs and activities.”

For UMass, the letter appears to have been sent due to a complaint filed in February 2024 over the handling of two alleged antisemitic incidents, including one in which pro-Palestinian students cornered and harassed a Jewish reporter, that took place in October and November 2023. That complaint was made by Zachary Marschall, editor in chief of Campus Reform, who wrote that he had “not seen the university take any concrete steps to combat hatred against Jewish students or staff.”

The Department of Education posted a statement from Secretary of Education Linda McMahon that the department is “deeply disappointed” that Jewish students are continuing to fear for their safety, and suggested that federal funding to the universities and colleges could be at stake.

“University leaders must do better,” McMahon said. “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.”  

On a federal actions page, where UMass provides regular updates on how it is being affected by orders from President Trump and his administration, the university states,“by policy, action, and aligned with its values of maintaining an inclusive, respectful learning, teaching and working environment, the University of Massachusetts Amherst does not tolerate discrimination based on national origin under its Affirmative Action, Non-Discrimination and Title IX Non-Discrimination Policy.”

“The university condemns hatred, including antisemitism, in all forms. The University of Massachusetts Amherst will continue to cooperate fully with the Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights.”

Already, the federal department, alongside fellow members of the Joint Task Force to Combat Antisemitism, has canceled $400 million in federal grants and contracts to Columbia University, contending that the school has not acted to protect Jewish students from discrimination. Columbia is one of five universities where “directed investigations” are taking place, pursuant to Title VI and Trump’s “Additional Measures to Combat Antisemitism” executive order, and for reports of “widespread antisemitic harassment.”

UMass is one of 55 additional universities under investigation or being monitored in response to complaints it has received.

Last spring, a separate investigation was started by the Office of Civil Rights when a complaint was filed April 4 by Palestine Legal on behalf of 18 UMass students, accusing the university of failing to act against harassment of pro-Palestinian students for months despite repeated notice, and of retaliating against pro-Palestinian demonstrators by arresting them and posting their names and home addresses on the UMass Police Department website.

Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.