University of Minnesota officials say they are working to address antisemitism on campus amid federal investigations spurred by protests against Israel and the recent immigration arrest of a pro-Palestinian organizer in New York.
University President Rebecca Cunningham outlined the U’s steps to combat antisemitism in an email to students and staff earlier this week.
“There is absolutely no place for antisemitism at the University of Minnesota,” she wrote. “In accordance with our institutional values, we firmly and aggressively reject any and all forms of hatred directed toward members of our Jewish community.”
University of Minnesota President Rebecca Cunningham. (Courtesy of the University of Minnesota)
The U is one of 60 schools under investigation by the U.S. Department of Education. The U.S. Department of Justice announced plans to visit the U — along with nine other universities — as part of its own investigation.
The moves are a part of an executive order President Donald Trump signed in January that seeks to “investigate and punish anti-Jewish racism in leftist, anti-American colleges and universities.”
The investigations have alarmed pro-Palestinian groups and free speech advocates who say the federal government is cracking down on the right to protest.
The U’s plan to address antisemitism
In her statement to the campus, Cunningham pointed to recent efforts to combat antisemitism. She named improvements to the school’s bias reporting and response system, and said the school has joined the Hillel Campus Climate Initiative, a nationwide project by the Jewish organization Hillel.
She also pointed to efforts to clarify protest policies. The University rolled out guidelines over the summer reminding students to limit sizes, locations and hours of demonstrations. Students violating the rules can face suspension, arrest and other penalties.
On Friday, the Board of Regents is expected to consider a resolution that could limit the kinds of public statements the University’s institutes, centers and academic departments can make. It would bar “institutional statements addressing matters of public concern or public interest.”
Richard Painter, a professor at the U, is urging the regents to approve the resolution. In 2023, Painter and former regent Michael Hsu filed a complaint with the federal government over statements critical of Israel that were posted to a College of Liberal Arts departmental website.
University of Minnesota Law School professor Richard Painter. (Dave Orrick / Pioneer Press)
Painter suggested that passing the resolution Friday, among other actions, could insulate the University from federal funding cuts as a result of the investigations. Others on campus warn the resolution would muzzle faculty and create a slippery slope toward authoritarianism.
The Trump administration recently pulled $400 million in funding from Columbia University over antisemitism claims stemming from last year’s prominent protests on the campus.
Protesters push back
Trump also warned Monday that he plans to crack down on individual protesters after federal agents arrested a Palestinian activist who helped lead protests at Columbia. ICE agents detained Mahmoud Khalil in New York on Saturday and took him to a federal immigration jail in Louisiana.
Mahmoud Khalil. (AP Photo/Ted Shaffrey, file)
Khalil is a legal U.S. resident. A federal judge has ordered that he not be deported yet to give the court time to consider a legal challenge.
The investigations and arrests are raising alarms for protesters and civil rights advocates.
“We are concerned that UMN will follow suit and submit information to allow the detention of MN students, faculty, and staff for participating in protests,” Anti-War Committee organizer Meredith Aby said in a statement. “The racist targeting of Khalil aims to instill fear in pro-Palestine activists as well as a warning to others at all university campuses. We are organizing this protest to show community support for the pro-Palestine student movement.”
University leaders recently said the school would only share student information if it is required by a subpoena or court order, as has always been the case. They also say campus law enforcement officers do not participate in immigration enforcement.
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