University of Vermont, feds reach settlement in antisemitism case

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The University of Vermont and the U.S. Department of Education announced Monday a settlement of a complaint the school failed to respond adequately to antisemitic harassment of Jewish students at the Burlington school.

In a news release announcing the settlement, the Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights said the university's Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Office declined to investigate complaints, even though the university had been notified of what were described as serious allegations of harassment.

The original complaints included allegations that a teaching assistant posted on social media about not giving Jewish students course participation credit; subtracting points for Jewish students; and celebrating the theft of an Israeli flag from a Jewish student’s residence.

GA HOUSE TO DEFINE ANTISEMITISM IN STATE LAW

The complaints also said that Jewish students were excluded from student organizations, that students threw rocks at the building housing Jewish students, and when a student living in the building asked them to stop, one of the students responded, "Are you Jewish?"

"Everyone has a right to learn in an environment free from antisemitic harassment," Assistant Secretary of Education for Civil Rights Catherine E. Lhamon said in a statement announcing the agreement. "We will be watching to be sure these students are safe."

In its statement announcing the agreement, the university said it condemns and will not tolerate antisemitism in any form.

The University of Vermont has reached a settlement with the Department of Education over its alleged failure to properly address anti-Semitic incidents on campus. (Fox