The US Department of Education recently opened an investigation into the University of Southern California after a student there filed a complaint with both the DOE and the Justice Department claiming that USC had tolerated an anti-Semitic environment on campus, which resulted in the student resigning from her position as vice president of USC's student government.

The Complaint Alleges USC Permitted a Hostile Environment

The complaint alleges that USC permitted the hostile environment in violation of Title IV of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits schools from discriminating against students based on their religion. It claims that the student was a “victim of a concerted campaign of anti-Semitic harassment that targeted her on the basis of her shared ancestral and ethnic characteristics,” in particular “because she demonstrated pride in her shared Jewish ancestry and ethnicity by expressing support for a Jewish homeland.”

The complaint sought the investigation under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, which provides for such an investigation where a school that receives federal funding is alleged to have discriminated on the basis of “race, color, or national origin.” The complaint also suggested a number of remedies, including requiring USC to “create a Task Force to review, address, and improve Jewish life on the USC campus” and adding Jewish students to the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion councils of the USC Provost and USC student government.

What to Do if You Are Discriminated Against at School

Students should be able to pursue higher education without having to worry that their race, ethnicity, or national origin are going to become the target of discriminatory behavior. And while the vast majority of colleges and universities have worked very hard to create welcoming environments for all of their students, every school is made up of individuals who don't always understand that discriminatory behavior is not acceptable.

Schools that accept federal funding, meaning the vast majority of colleges and universities in the US, are required to follow the Civil Rights Act. When they allow discriminatory behavior to take place, whether it's by faculty, staff, or students, then the Department of Education and the Justice Department can step in and force them to take steps to put the discrimination to a stop.

If You've Been Discriminated Against, You Can Take Action

If you have been the victim of discriminatory behavior at a college or university, and the school has failed to address it, you have a right to bring a complaint to the US Department of Education and the Justice Department. This complex area of the law is not one you should take on alone. Joseph D. Lento has been fighting for student rights for years in student disciplinary tribunals, Title IX misconduct situations, and a wide range of other situations involving students and school employees. He and his team at the Lento Law Firm can help you decide the best way to help you get the kind of education you deserve.

Attorney Joseph D. Lento Can Help

College can be a very challenging time under the best of circumstances. Students face tremendous academic, social, and sometimes parental and financial pressure and do not need the additional challenge of having to deal with a discriminatory environment on top of all of that. Attorney Joseph D. Lento and the Lento Law Firm have years of experience helping students protect themselves. Call attorney Joseph D. Lento and the Lento Law Firm at 888.535.3686 or reach out to us online. We are here to listen and help.