The U.S. Education Department recently found problems with how Johns Hopkins University treats people of Arab and Jewish backgrounds. To fix this, the university has agreed to change its rules and provide training for students and staff about how to prevent bullying and unfair treatment based on someone’s background.
Johns Hopkins confirmed this agreement to local news. A spokesperson for the university said that discrimination of any kind, including against Jewish and Arab people, goes against their school values.
Advocates have been worried about rising incidents of unfair treatment against Jews and Arabs on campuses, especially after fighting broke out between Israel and Hamas on October 7, 2023.
According to the Education Department, schools that get federal funding cannot discriminate against anyone based on race or ethnicity under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. They mentioned that Johns Hopkins University received 99 complaints about harassment from October 2023 to May 2024. Some specific complaints included teachers using hurtful words regarding Arab people and reports of stereotypes against Jewish students.
In one case, a teacher reportedly made a cruel remark about Arabs, and during a protest, someone held a sign with a swastika while supporting Hamas.
Across the U.S., many universities saw student protests calling for an end to American support for Israel’s actions in Gaza, with reports showing many people have died in the ongoing conflict. Other universities like the University of California and Rutgers University have also made similar agreements to address discrimination issues.
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