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An antisemitism complaint was filed on Friday against Colorado College on behalf of a group of current Jewish undergraduates over discrimination and harassment they said they had suffered at the school in the aftermath of October 7th.
The complaint, prepared by the Holtzman Vogel law firm and National Jewish Advocacy Center and submitted to the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights, detailed a series of antisemitic incidents experienced by the students, and accused the college — located in Colorado Springs — of failing to meet its obligations under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act.
“Although Jewish students have complained to Colorado College about the antisemitic incidents and sought assistance to quell the hostile environment on campus, Colorado College has done nothing to address the ongoing issues or the perpetrators behind them,” the filing noted. “Instead, Colorado College has engaged in deliberate indifference, dismissing the concerns of Jewish students and refusing to enforce its own policies, thereby creating an environment in which Jewish students are fearful to return to campus this coming fall. As a result of Colorado College’s inadequate approach to addressing antisemitism, Jewish students have been deprived of the ability to fully and equally partake in the educational opportunities offered by the school — in direct violation of Title VI.”
The complaint can be read in full HERE.
Mark Goldfeder, CEO and Director of NJAC, stated, “Schools that take federal funding have an affirmative obligation to maintain a discrimination-free environment. Colorado College has repeatedly failed to protect its Jewish community, and, even when they were warned, the administration displayed a painful degree of deliberate indifference. We hope that this complaint will help them find their way if not to contrition then at least to compliance.”
Colorado College repeatedly failed to protect its Jewish community, and even when warned displayed a painful degree of deliberate indifference. Our complaint should help them find their way, if not to contrition then to compliance. #IHRAshouldbeeasy @holtzmanvogel @politicalelle https://t.co/d48EdfM9y1
— Mark Goldfeder (@MarkGoldfeder) August 26, 2024
Holtzman Vogel Partner Jason Torchinsky commented, “Colorado College must be held accountable for antisemitic acts that are occurring on campus and by staff. This directly violates the fundamental rights of individuals, and our legal action reaffirms Holtzman Vogel’s commitment to ensuring every person, regardless of background, can learn in an environment free from discrimination.”
The past ten months have seen a massive surge across the United States of Title VI complaints based on ancestry, with 219 filed between the start of October and mid-February alone — a 1,360% increase from the same time period the previous year.
