In a recent move, the U. S. Department of Education has settled complaints from Jewish and Muslim students across five University of California campuses. The complaints stemmed from protests last spring over the war in Gaza, alleging that the universities didn't handle antisemitic and anti-Arab harassment effectively. The schools must now improve their response to complaints and provide more training for staff and police. This agreement is part of the university system's broader effort to create a more welcoming environment for all students.

Last year's Israel-Hamas war led to tense and sometimes violent protests on campuses nationwide. The Department of Education has been looking into many complaints that schools violated Title VI, which forbids discrimination or harassment based on race, color, or national origin. Brown University and the University of Cincinnati have also faced similar investigations. For example, a Palestinian student at the University of Cincinnati reported death threats that were not investigated.

At UCLA, criticism arose from how the campus handled a pro-Palestinian encampment. Protesters clashed, with counter-protesters attacking the encampment, leading to chaos. Jewish students felt unsafe, and Muslim students faced unwanted filming and harassment. Other UC campuses also saw reported incidents of harassment. The agreement requires the universities to review past complaints and improve their handling of future issues.

UC Campuses Reach Agreement on Handling Gaza Protests

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