The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights has declared that an agreement has been reached with Brown University to ensure the institution complies with federal laws that prohibit discrimination and harassment against students of Jewish, Palestinian, Arab, and Muslim backgrounds. This announcement follows a complaint filed against the university in December.
Brown University voluntarily committed to clarifying and improving existing policies and procedures regarding the resolution of discrimination and harassment complaints, especially those related to antisemitism. The university insisted that it did not breach Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 in handling the matters brought forward in the complaint, which was reportedly filed by the editor of an online media outlet unaffiliated with Brown or its campus.
In response to the resolution, Brown University will continue its efforts to provide nondiscrimination training for members of the campus community. The Office of Civil Rights investigation acknowledged the steps taken by the university to promote a nondiscriminatory campus environment, such as organizing workshops for students and staff on combating antisemitism and anti-Muslim bigotry.
Reports obtained during the investigation revealed around 75 incidents of alleged antisemitic, anti-Palestinian, and anti-Muslim harassment against students from October 2023 to late March 2024. Despite acknowledging the reports and offering support resources, the university appeared to have taken minimal action aside from arranging meetings with the complainants.
As a part of the revised practices, Brown University focused on ensuring the safety of its community members, particularly those who are Israeli, Palestinian, Muslim, Jewish, or have ties to the region and are affected by ongoing events. The university had already begun implementing a number of the required actions outlined in the agreement prior to its completion.
In response to the OCR’s investigation, Brown University expressed satisfaction with reaffirming its commitment to enhancing policies, systems, and operations to foster a campus environment where all students, faculty, and staff feel safe and supported. Russell Carey, the executive vice president for planning and policy and interim vice president for campus life at the university, commended the agreement for reinforcing the institution’s dedication to creating a positive and inclusive campus climate.
