Northwestern Antisemitism Complaint Triggers Federal Investigation

EVANSTON, IL — A complaint about antisemitism at Northwestern University in the wake of the Oct. 7 attacks on Israel has led federal education officials to open an investigation into potential violations of anti-discrimination laws.

The U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights this week responded to a complaint from Zachary Marschall, the editor-in-chief of the website Campus Reform.

Marschall filed a complaint with the office on Jan. 10, alleging that Northwestern University failed to appropriately respond to incidents of harassment of Jewish students following Hamas's Oct. 7 surprise attacks on Israel and the subsequent Israeli military response.

“My primary concern is for Jewish students’ safety and wellbeing on campus. If these investigations help in any way, then they are completely worth doing. " Marschall, who has so far declined to provide a copy of his complaint, said in a statement.

"In my multiple calls with lawyers from the Office for Civil Rights, I stress how difficult it is for Jewish students I’ve spoken to come out publicly about their experiences," he continued. "Since I’m in a position to speak out, I feel morally obligated to do what I can to fight antisemitism on college campuses.”

In a letter dated Tuesday, a portion of which was posted online by Campus Reform, Education Department officials notified Marschall that they would investigate whether Northwestern "failed to respond to alleged harassment of students on the basis of national origin (shared Jewish ancestry) in a matter consistent with the requirements of Title VI."

Campus Reform describes itself as a "conservative watchdog to the nation’s higher education system" that "exposes liberal bias and abuse on the nation’s college campuses." It is a project of the Leadership Institute, led by longtime Republican Party official Morton Blackwell and is the self-described "center of conservative activist training."

According to Campus Reform, the complaint cities an Oct. 12 vigil hosted by Students for Justice in Palestine in front of Deering Library on Northwestern's Evanston campus.

The vigil, at which the library was illuminated in the colors of the Palestinian flag, was attended by Vice President of Students Susan Davis, while University President Michael Schill declined an invitation, organizers told The Daily Northwestern at the time.

The prior day, Schill shared a letter with senior university staff in response to questions about whether he or Northwestern would issue a statement regarding the conflict in Israel and Gaza.

He expressed his personal view that the Hamas attacks were horrific and inhuman. Be he also acknowledged that faculty, students and staff have their own voices and the university as an institution cannot speak for them.

"Regardless of what the University has done in the past, I do not foresee that I will be issuing statements on political, geopolitical or social issues that do not directly impact the core mission of our University, the education and futures of our students, or higher education," Schill said.

"This reticence to speak out publicly as President Michael Schill will sometimes please and often infuriate members of our community," he said. "But I believe it is the right approach."

Marschall's complaint also reportedly mentions a joint statement from faculty members in the Asian American Studies Program that was posted to social media on Oct. 17.

"As Ethnic Studies scholars, we are pro-Palestine and against antisemitism because we understand that all systems of oppression reinforce one another, and none can be fought in isolation," it said. "Islamophobia and antisemitism must both be eradicated if we are to live without violence."

The other instance of alleged antisemitic harassment Marschall cited, according to Campus Reform's description of his complaint, was an Oct. 25 walkout calling for Northwestern to divest from organizations supporting Israel.

The walkout coincided with a day of demonstrations at college campuses across the country and was reportedly attended by more than 150 students. Participants held signs calling for an end to "Israeli apartheid" and chanted about Northwestern "paying for genocide," the Daily reported.

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Title VI of the U.S. Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination based on race, color or national origin for programs or activities which receive federal financial assistance.

Spokespeople for the Education Department's Office for Civil Rights, or OCR, did not immediately respond to messages about Marschall's Title VI complaint.

According to OCR, the office attempts to obtain voluntary compliance if its investigation finds Title VI has been violated. If it cannot do so voluntarily, it can refer the case to the Justice Department for court action or open administrative law court proceedings to end federal funding, which only happens once the violator gets a hearing and all other appeals are exhausted.

Anyone who alleges a violation of Title VI also has the right to file a federal civil rights lawsuit themselves.

Court records indicate no one has done so against Northwestern, although suits have been recently filed against Harvard University, New York University, the University of Pennsylvania and the Art Institute of Chicago.

Northwestern spokesperson Jon Yates said in a statement the university does not tolerate antisemitism or discrimination and is committed to providing a safe and welcoming environment for the entire community.

Yates told Patch that university officials have yet to receive a copy of Marschall's complaint, though the Department of Education has informed them that it has opened an investigation into it.

"The University will respond to the Department of Education and cooperate with its investigation. The complaint against Northwestern was not filed by a member of our community but instead by an outside organization," Yates said. "The Department of Education is investigating dozens of universities."