January 21, 2025

This week, the US Department of Education Office of Civil Rights (OCR) concluded its investigation into complaints alleging that the University of Washington discriminated against students based on shared ancestry (Title VI). Given the challenges on campus for many Jewish and Israeli students over the last year, we welcome OCR’s investigation.

The findings in the OCR resolution letter confirm much of what has already been known about the environment on the University of Washington campus over the last year — a campus plagued at times by inaction and a hostile climate, ineffective reporting mechanisms, minimal follow-up with those reporting, and other documented failings. The sampling of incidents in the resolution letter of antisemitism and Islamophobia experienced by students, faculty, and staff throughout the past year is a vivid reminder of what so many endured, and the disappointing and inadequate response by campus officials that often followed. 

All UW students, regardless of their religion, race, gender, ethnicity, or background, should feel confident that their university will protect them. We hope this resolution agreement, which includes strict reporting and compliance deadlines, combined with other actions to which the UW administration has already committed, will chart a new path forward in ensuring greater accountability, follow-up, and resolution when any student reports an incident of discrimination. We look forward to continued collaboration with UW leadership toward a safe and inclusive campus. 

We appreciate the lawyers at the Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law for filing this complaint on behalf of Jewish students and working with us to help uphold the rights of Jews in our area.