Fetterman, Cassidy reintroduce legislation targeting antisemitism at universities
"Colleges need to do more to protect students and help them find paths to recourse." — Sen. John Fetterman
Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman, a Democrat, and Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy, a Republican, reintroduced bipartisan legislation this week that would empower students to file civil rights complaints if they experience violence or harassment on campus because of their heritage.
The Protecting Students on Campus Act was previously introduced by Fetterman and Cassidy after the surge of antisemitic incidents on college campuses following Hamas’ Oct. 7 massacre in Israel.
“Colleges should be places for students to learn and grow, and the Protecting Students on Campus Act would help ensure that they are exactly that,” Fetterman said. “This bill is about protecting young people facing discrimination on college campuses and making sure they know their rights. The increasing rates of discrimination, including harassment, hateful speech, instances of vandalism have left students feeling unsafe and threatened based on their race or what country they’re from, particularly over the last couple years. Colleges need to do more to protect students and help them find paths to recourse. This bill would help us get a clearer view of where these terrible acts are happening, understand actions taken by colleges to address these occurrences, and hold colleges accountable.”
Under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, the Department of Education is compelled to hold universities accountable for failing to address discrimination against students on campuses.
Antisemitic incidents on college campuses increased almost 500% between 2023 and 2024, according to the Anti-Defamation League, totaling more than 1200 reports.
The Protecting Students on Campus Act will empower students by increasing their awareness of how to report civil rights violations and will require colleges and universities to post links and language on their website with instructions on how to file a Title VI discrimination complaint. If the act is passed, institutions that receive federal funding will be required to report the number of civil rights complaints they receive and the actions they took to address those complaints.
The ADL and the American Jewish Committee endorse the legislation. PJC
Toby Tabachnick can be reached at ttabachnick@pittsburghjewishchronicle.org.
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