UVA and Mason among the 60 colleges Trump targeting for alleged antisemitism
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Student protesters wave Palestinian flags at UVA on May 4, 2024. Photo: Eze Amos/Getty Images
UVA and George Mason are among a group of colleges and universities across the country at risk of losing federal funding as the Trump administration threatens to zero in on alleged antisemitism.
The big picture: The move comes after President Trump said last week that he'd strip federal funding from colleges that allow "illegal protests."
Driving the news: The Department of Education announced Monday it's investigating 60 colleges and universities, including the two in Virginia, over allegations of antisemitic harassment and discrimination.
- All of the universities are under investigation for alleged Title VI violations relating to antisemitic harassment and discrimination, according to the department.
- Education Secretary Linda McMahon said in a statement that "relentless antisemitic eruptions … have severely disrupted campus life for more than a year," warning university officials to "do better."
Zoom in: UVA and George Mason were among many schools around the country that saw or participated in pro-Palestinian protests and encampments last year following action at Columbia University — the epicenter of student demonstrations over Israel's handling of the war in Gaza.
- Last year, more than 125 people in Virginia, including dozens of students, were arrested at protests on VCU, UVA, Virginia Tech and Mary Washington campuses.
Yes, but: George Mason students did not protest on campus last year, though some participated in an encampment at George Washington University in D.C.
- Paul Allvin, the university's chief brand officer, noted the distinction in a statement to Axios, saying "the letter appears to reference a pre-existing complaint filed with the Department in late 2023, to which the university previously responded."
- He added that George Mason is working on a "comprehensive response" to the Department of Education.
UVA didn't immediately return Axios' request for comment.
Zoom out: Trump on Monday praised the arrest of a pro-Palestinian activist and Columbia University alumnus, saying it's the first of "many to come."
- He said, "We know there are more students at Columbia and other Universities across the Country who have engaged in pro-terrorist, anti-Semitic, anti-American activity, and the Trump Administration will not tolerate it."
By the numbers: The institutions vary widely in enrollment size and location, though nearly half are concentrated in the Northeast.
- Nine Big Ten schools are being threatened, including Northwestern, Michigan and Ohio State.