A formal investigation into claims of antisemitism at the University of Vermont began on Tuesday after dozens of students complained of “severe” and “persistent” harassment for identifying as Jewish.The complaint, which was issued in 2021, alleges that UVM allowed a hostile environment to proliferate on campus, which violated the Civil Rights Act.The complaint details several student accounts of anti-Semitic behavior, including student exclusion from campus groups, online harassment and cyberbullying led by a teaching assistant, and vandalism of the UVM Hillel building.Furthermore, the complaint said an environment of harassment and intimidation has existed at UVM for years, but got worse when the teaching assistant in question “repeatedly instigated hate” against Jewish students who expressed support for Zionism. The complaint alleges that the TA threatened to lower grades and encouraged others to cyberbully those students, as well as promoting vandalizing the Israeli flag. UVM issued a statement in response to the investigation on Tuesday, which read:”The University is aware of the Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights investigation and is looking forward to providing the agency with a full response to the underlying allegations, each of which was reported to the university in 2021 and investigated by campus officials. “UVM seeks to foster a culture of inclusiveness for all students, faculty, and staff, including members of our Jewish community and does not tolerate acts of bias or discrimination related to religion, race, culture, gender, or sexual orientation on our campus.The Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights is leading the investigation into student allegations of antisemitism.Tune in to the evening news as NBC5’s Stephen Biddix will provide updates on this story.
A formal investigation into claims of antisemitism at the University of Vermont began on Tuesday after dozens of students complained of “severe” and “persistent” harassment for identifying as Jewish.
The complaint, which was issued in 2021, alleges that UVM allowed a hostile environment to proliferate on campus, which violated the Civil Rights Act.
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The complaint details several student accounts of anti-Semitic behavior, including student exclusion from campus groups, online harassment and cyberbullying led by a teaching assistant, and vandalism of the UVM Hillel building.
Furthermore, the complaint said an environment of harassment and intimidation has existed at UVM for years, but got worse when the teaching assistant in question “repeatedly instigated hate” against Jewish students who expressed support for Zionism.
The complaint alleges that the TA threatened to lower grades and encouraged others to cyberbully those students, as well as promoting vandalizing the Israeli flag.
UVM issued a statement in response to the investigation on Tuesday, which read:
“The University is aware of the Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights investigation and is looking forward to providing the agency with a full response to the underlying allegations, each of which was reported to the university in 2021 and investigated by campus officials.
“UVM seeks to foster a culture of inclusiveness for all students, faculty, and staff, including members of our Jewish community and does not tolerate acts of bias or discrimination related to religion, race, culture, gender, or sexual orientation on our campus.
The Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights is leading the investigation into student allegations of antisemitism.
Tune in to the evening news as NBC5’s Stephen Biddix will provide updates on this story.
