In response to allegations of antisemitic discrimination and harassment on campus, Drexel University has reached a resolution with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) to ensure the institution adheres to Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
The investigation was initiated after an October 2023 complaint suggested that a fire on the dormitory door of a Jewish student might have been motivated by antisemitism. However, OCR confirmed that the incident was not related to antisemitic conduct, and the university’s response did not raise concerns under Title VI. Despite this, the investigation highlighted broader issues in Drexel’s handling of incidents of discrimination and harassment linked to shared ancestry.
OCR found that Drexel often failed to adequately assess whether reported incidents created a hostile environment. When the university did conduct assessments, it frequently misapplied the legal standards required under Title VI. For example, in several instances, Drexel did not evaluate whether off-campus or online conduct contributed to a hostile environment within the university.
During its review, OCR examined 35 additional incidents of alleged harassment related to national origin, including shared Jewish ancestry, reported between October 2022 and January 2024. These incidents included disturbing examples, such as antisemitic graffiti, the removal of mezuzah from dormitory doors, and threats on social media. Despite these ongoing issues, the university’s responses were limited to addressing each case individually without considering the broader implications for the campus environment.
To address the identified deficiencies, Drexel committed to several corrective actions. These include reviewing past complaints and taking necessary remedial actions, revising policies to ensure proper assessments of hostile environments, and providing ongoing training to staff and students. The university will also submit future reports to OCR for review and feedback.
“The commitments Drexel has made today are designed to ensure its full compliance with Title VI, building on many critical proactive steps the university has already taken, and importantly bringing university practices in line with federal civil rights requirements,” Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Catherine E. Lhamon said in a press release. “OCR will work with Drexel in the coming years to ensure its full satisfaction of its federal civil rights obligation to ensure that Jewish students at the university, and all students at the university, can learn safely in an environment free from stereotyped discrimination related to their shared ancestral backgrounds.”
