Bipartisan legislation was introduced by New York lawmakers on Friday, aiming to address rising antisemitism on college campuses. The proposed bill, known as the College Oversight and Legal Updates Mandating Bias Investigations and Accountability (COLUMBIA) Act, would authorize the US Department of Education to appoint a third-party antisemitism monitor at institutions of higher education that receive federal funding.
The bill, sponsored by Democratic Rep. Ritchie Torres and Republican Rep. Mike Lawler, outlines that colleges selected for monitoring would be responsible for covering the costs of the monitorship. Failure to comply with the monitoring requirements could result in the loss of federal funds for the institution. The appointed monitor would be tasked with issuing quarterly reports on the college or university's efforts to combat antisemitism and providing recommendations for improvement.
Rep. Lawler emphasized the importance of ensuring the safety of students on college campuses, particularly in light of the increasing incidents of antisemitism. He stated, 'If colleges will not step up to protect their students, Congress must act.' Rep. Torres echoed these sentiments, noting that Jewish students have reported feeling unsafe due to their religious and ethnic identity.
Rep. Torres highlighted the need to address these issues promptly, citing recent incidents at Columbia University as indicative of a broader problem. He emphasized the federal government's responsibility to intervene and prevent further violations of Title VI protections against discrimination.
