Rubio Introduces ‘Preventing Anti-Semitic Harassment on Campus Act’

By Shirleen Guerra | The Central Square

Florida Republican Senators Rick Scott and Marco Rubio introduced the Campus Anti-Semitic Harassment Prevention Act.

Anti-Semitism on college campuses has increased since the harrowing October 7, 2023, attack on Hamas-backed Israel. War has ravaged Gaza ever since.

The legislation aims to hold Higher Education Institutes accountable by ensuring they enforce federal consequences.

“Jewish students deserve to be safe, and any college or university in this country that allows anti-Semitism on campus and leaves students terrified for their safety must be held accountable,” Scott said in a statement. “Colleges and universities must reject all forms of hate and prejudice and hold accountable those who are complicit in the rise in anti-Semitism we see on campuses across the country. I am proud to join Senator Rubio in introducing the Campus Anti-Semitic Harassment Prevention Act to address these issues head-on.”

Any federally funded programs in the United States are legally bound by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

The Act would strongly strengthen Title VI and extend it to prohibit discrimination on the basis of religion, with certain religious exceptions, and would establish clear and severe penalties for institutions that reoffend.

The Department of Education issued a Letter to Dear Colleagues in May 2023 reminding them of the legal obligation to “provide all students, including Jewish students, with a school environment free from discrimination on the basis of race, color or national origin, including shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics.” .”

Cases of anti-Semitic harassment have increased by 500%, according to ADL reports, and senators say institutions across the country have done nothing to prevent or punish those involved.

“Colleges and universities claim to value diversity and inclusion, but have failed to address the dangerous anti-Semitic incidents that have plagued campuses over the past year,” Rubio said in a statement.

Previously, two congressional committees were investigating potential civil rights violations related to anti-Semitism by a federal program with $4 billion in taxpayer funds, which led to questions about how anti-Semitic behavior in campus has been allowed for so long.

Rubio said, “My Campus Anti-Semitic Harassment Prevention Act is a critical step toward ensuring that our educational institutions live up to their responsibility to protect Jewish students from hate and discrimination.”

The Act also requires institutions to notify students, faculty, and staff if they violate Title VI.

The final requirement asks the Department of Education to monitor all private lawsuits against any institution that receives federal financial assistance regarding anti-Semitism.

Originally published October 22, 2024 by The Center Square

MORE: Cornell Releases Video Debunking Pro-Palestinian Nonviolence Claims

IMAGE: Gage Skidmore/Flickr

As The College Fix on Facebook / Follow us on Twitter