Sacramento State, UC Davis among 10 California universities investigated for antisemitism
Sacramento State and UC Davis are two of 10 California universities being investigated by the U.S. Department of Education Office of Civil Rights for alleged Title VI violations related to antisemitic harassment and discrimination on campuses.
The Education Department’s announcement of probes into 60 universities nationwide comes amid the President Donald Trump administration’s mounting pressure on university administrators to stifle pro-Palestinian student demonstrations protesting Israel’s actions in its Israel-Hamas war or risk losing federal funding.
Secretary of Education Linda McMahon characterizes the university protests as antisemitic harassment against Jewish students, alleging violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act.
“The Department is deeply disappointed that Jewish students studying on elite U.S. campuses continue to fear for their safety amid the relentless antisemitic eruptions that have severely disrupted campus life for more than a year. University leaders must do better,” said Secretary of Education Linda McMahon.
Student justice groups at both California State University, Sacramento and UC Davis will walk out Tuesday to protest the federal crackdown on Palestinian activists’ rights, including the detainment of Columbia University graduate student and Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil by Immigration Customs and Enforcement. The Trump administration, which has likened him to a terrorist sympathizer, reportedly revoked Khalil’s green card.
In addition to Khalil’s arrest, the Trump administration pulled $400 million in federal grants and contracts from Columbia, claiming the university failed to act against the “persistent harassment of Jewish students.”
Sacramento State is the only California State University under investigation while UC Davis is one of four in the University of California system. Activist groups at both universities erected controversial encampments in May 2024, calling for the higher education institutions to divest from Israel.
Both encampments ended without conflict with law enforcement.
Universities’ response to investigations
The other California schools being investigated are Chapman University, Pomona College, Santa Monica College, Stanford University, University of Southern California and UC Berkeley, San Diego and Santa Barbara.
Both Sacramento State and the University of California President’s Office have publicly acknowledged the letters from OCR and affirmed their commitment to Jewish students.
“Our university takes its obligations under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 very seriously and, consistent with these obligations, is committed to serving students of all backgrounds regardless of race, color, or national origin (including shared ancestry) and to providing an environment where students can learn, live and succeed free from race, color, or national origin discrimination or harassment,” the statement reads. “Among many other services, resources, and initiatives, we have a Jewish Life Center in partnership with Hillel, a Presidential Advisory Council on Antisemitism, and strong partnerships with our local Jewish community. Sacramento State stands in support of our Jewish community, and we reject antisemitism in all forms.”
The UC President’s Office said “we want to be clear: the University of California is unwavering in its commitment to combating antisemitism and protecting the civil rights of all our students, faculty, staff, and visitors. We continue to take specific steps to foster an environment free of antisemitism and other forms of discrimination and harassment for everyone in the university community.”
This story was originally published March 11, 2025 at 1:37 PM.
CORRECTION: Title VI is a federal law that prevents discrimination on the basis of race, color and national origin. The law’s Roman numeral was incorrect in an earlier version of the story.
