Santa Monica College (SMC) has been added to the list of educational institutions under investigation by the federal government for civil rights violations.
SMC was one of six schools added to the investigation list last week after an initial group of educational institutions were identified by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights as being under investigation for alleged violations of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 in November.
The list so far includes Harvard University, Columbia University, Cornell University, Lafayette College, Wellesley College, Tulane University, University of Tampa, University of Pennsylvania, University of Cincinnati, Montana State University, Union College, and SMC. Several school districts are on the list including Cobb County School District, New York City Department of Education, Clark County School District, Hillsborough County Schools, and Mayes Unified School District.
According to the Ministry of Education, these investigations focus on violations of common descent, and address discrimination and harassment, including anti-Semitism, anti-Muslim and anti-Arab incidents, since the conflict between Israel and Hamas in October 2023.
“Hate has no place in our schools. When students are targeted because they are – or are perceived to be – Jewish, Muslim, Arab, Sikh, or any other ethnicity or common ancestry, schools must work to ensure safe and inclusive learning environments.” Where everyone is free to learn. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona “These investigations underscore how seriously the Biden-Harris administration, including the US Department of Education, takes our responsibility to protect students from hate and discrimination.”
According to SMC Secretary, Dr. Sion Roy, the local case stems from students excluding Students Supporting Israel (SSI) campus activities.
SSI describes itself as “a rapidly growing international university Zionist movement supporting the State of Israel.” While the organization’s local chapter was eligible to be a fully functioning club on campus, students at the October meeting of SMC’s Inter-Club Council (ICC) rejected SSI’s status as an official club because of their opposition to Israel’s treatment of Palestinians, in violation of federal law. Law.
SMC management reversed this decision the next day.
“Based on legal advice received from campus counsel, there is no legal basis to deny recognition to SSI as a student club,” a statement from the SMC Office of Student Life said the day after the meeting. “SSI will be given recognized status and full support to the club with 66% funding determined by the Club Council constitution until the club is officially recognized at the next Club Council meeting.”
SMC said it is aware of the complaint and is responding to students’ concerns.
“On December 4, 2023, Santa Monica College received a letter from the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights requesting that we respond to a complaint regarding the Associated Student Clubs Council meeting on October 19, 2023,” he said. Director of Public Information Grace A. Smith. “When students brought their concerns to the attention of college administrators, the college took immediate action on October 20, 2023 and publicly shared the steps it had taken to immediately rectify the situation where the ICC had failed to tenure students who support Israel in SMC (SSI-SMC) as a club.
“This immediate action demonstrates the College’s commitment to a discrimination-free environment for all students and was recognized by SSI-SMC via a post on their official Instagram account on the same day. The College stands against all forms of hatred, including anti-Semitism. Recently, on 7 November 2023, the SMC Board of Trustees passed a resolution in support of United Against Hate Week which recognized the rise in anti-Semitism amid other ongoing acts of hatred and discrimination against marginalized groups across the country.
The club thanked the school for its action but said the incident should not have happened in the first place.
“SSI at SMC would like to thank everyone of you for the support you have given us,” the club wrote on social media. “It is through your support that the decision not to install the SSI Club has been corrected. As of now, we have been established as an official club, and we thank Santa Monica College for their quick response to our concerns. Their cooperation and professionalism make us proud to be SMC students. However, let us not forget the blatant anti-Semitism this has caused “In such a case to begin with. This will not be tolerated. We love you all and we are with you all Shabbat Shalom.”
In addition to overriding the student exclusion, SMC officials took up the issue with the club board to inform them of their obligations under the law.
“SMC’s Office of Student Life had a quick response to support reinstating SSI as a recognized club and took steps to ensure an environment at ICC free of anti-Semitism or other forms of discrimination,” Santa Monica College Trustee Dr. Sion Roy said on social media. Media. “All forms of discrimination are abhorrent, and rising acts of anti-Semitism around the world are unacceptable, especially on our campuses. The College will continue to do everything in its power to ensure that all students are heard and treated equally.”
Despite the school’s response, the club’s advisor, Darrell Keith Ogata, escalated the incident to federal officials, saying the Jewish students were made to feel unsafe.
“As a faculty advisor, I am once again disappointed that SMC is unable to provide a safe environment for students to learn and experience extracurricular activities. Discrimination of any kind is unacceptable. Anti-Semitism has no place in public institutions,” he said in a letter to school officials after the incident. For higher education such as SMC.”
matt@smdp.com
Related
The Southern Methodist University (SMU) has recently come under scrutiny as accusations of anti-Semitism have sparked a federal investigation into the institution. With a growing concern over the rise of anti-Semitic incidents on college campuses, the allegations have prompted the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights to take action. This investigation has drawn attention to the need for greater awareness and action to combat anti-Semitism within educational institutions, and has raised questions about the climate and culture at SMU. As the investigation unfolds, the university’s responses and actions will likely come under intense scrutiny, and the outcomes could have far-reaching implications for the campus community and beyond.