Investigation of a university above reporting

The Star Tribune affords the the University of Minnesota the sort of public relations treatment with which it covers Democrats. The logic of the Venn diagram must have something to do with it. Kamala Harris could not be reached for comment.

Yesterday the U.S. Department of Education announced that it is investigating the treatment of anti-Semitism at five universities. I have here in my hand the list of five:

• Columbia University
• Northwestern University
• Portland State University
• The University of California, Berkeley
• The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (i.e., the main campus of the University of Minnesota)

That is a damning list on which to be included. Columbia should be razed and the ground on which it sits salted.

The Department of Education press release explains:

“Too many universities have tolerated widespread antisemitic harassment and the illegal encampments that paralyzed campus life last year, driving Jewish life and religious expression underground. The Biden Administration’s toothless resolution agreements did shamefully little to hold those institutions accountable,” said Craig Trainor, Acting Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights. “Today, the Department is putting universities, colleges, and K-12 schools on notice: this administration will not tolerate continued institutional indifference to the wellbeing of Jewish students on American campuses, nor will it stand by idly if universities fail to combat Jew hatred and the unlawful harassment and violence it animates.”

Jessica Costescu’s Free Beacon story has additional background and JNS has more here. In any event, you’d think the inclusion of the University of Minnesota on this list would be big local news. Yet the Star Tribune hasn’t gotten around to reporting it.

UPDATE: Since I posted this I have received the following statement from the university’s public relations office:

The University received notice of this investigation from the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights on Monday afternoon and will be reviewing the details in the days ahead. We are confident in our approach to combating hate and bias on our campus and will fully cooperate with this investigation. The University continues to stand firmly against antisemitism. We have and will continue to respond promptly and fully to any reports of harassment, intimidation, or bias against Jewish students — or any other members of our University community — in accordance with our University values, our own policies, and our responsibility under the law.

Still awaiting comment from the office of the president of the university, although I assume that will do it.

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