The U.S. Department of Education has launched an investigation into Sarah Lawrence College in Yonkers for alleged violations of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. According to information seen by the Business Journal, the investigation was opened on Dec. 23, 2024.
The Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) is handling the investigation, which is in response to a complaint filed by Hillels of Westchester on behalf of Jewish students who identify with Hillel or Israel. Hillels of Westchester, which has as its mission enriching the lives of Jewish students, alleges violations of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. It is active in serving Jewish students on college campuses in Westchester.
A spokesperson for Sarah Lawrence told the Business Journal, “The college has been notified by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) that it is investigating allegations made in a Title VI complaint filed in March 2024. The college is in the process of reviewing OCR’s request for data in connection with its investigation and remains committed to fostering an inclusive and respectful campus community. It is our understanding that the complaint was filed by an organization outside the college and not by a member of the Sarah Lawrence community or internal organization.”
The complaint originally was filed in March 2024 with a supplement filed in June 2024. The complaint alleged a long history of systemic hostility toward the Jewish students who identify with Hillel or Israel. Hillels of Westchester alleged that students at Sarah Lawrence were being subjected to discrimination, harassment, and intimidation on the basis of their Jewish ancestry and ethnic identity.
According to the complaint, Sarah Lawrence College administrators and faculty at Sarah Lawrence failed to protect or defend these students. It was alleged that in some cases administrators and faculty were complicit in perpetuating hostility and discrimination.
Hillels alleged that Jewish students suffered when the college gave an award to a student group that supported Palestine and celebrated the Hamas Oct. 7 massacre. It also said that when an anti-Israel student group took over an administration building and distributed material supporting Hamas a number of faculty members publicly endorsed the actions.
According to Sheila Rennert, co-president of the Board of Directors at Hillels of Westchester, “Months prior to the OCR opening its investigation, our counsel, Baruch Weiss, of Arnold & Porter, proposed to the college’s general counsel that Hillel and the college enter into mediation to address the issues raised in the complaint. Baruch’s proposal still stands, but has not yet been accepted by the college.”
Board Co-President Haina Just-Michael said, “Hillels of Westchester has tried, over the past decade, to engage Sarah Lawrence College in an effort to remedy the systemic antisemitism on campus, but to no avail.”
