111 Livingston Street, Suite 1928 Beit Hakeren, 10 Hata'as Street Brooklyn, New York 11201 Ramat Gan

52512, Israel ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ (718) 855-3627 (972) 3-7514175 USA@israellawcenter.org www.israellawcenter.org

September 8, 2011 President Lee C. Bollinger Columbia University 202 Low Library 535 West 116th Street, Mail Code 4309 New York, N.Y. 10027 Re: Legal Obligations Related to Anti-Israel & Anti-Semitic Activities Dear President Bollinger, As yet another academic year begins, we write to inform you of your schools legal obligation to ensure the educational rights and safety of Jewish and Israeli students on your campus. We also write to inform you of your schools duty to reasonably prevent university funds from being diverted to unlawful activities that are directed against the State of Israel. Our organization, Shurat HaDinIsrael Law Center, is a civil rights organization based in Israel that is dedicated to protecting the rights of Jews and Israelis everywhere in the world. Unfortunately, it has come to our attention that Jewish and Israeli students are being subjected to substantial harassment and intimation on North American campuses that not only interferes with their educational rights, but also threatens their physical safety and wellbeing. A. Anti-Israel Intimidation and Harassment on College Campuses

For example, as a result of anti-Israel hostility on campus, the Rutgers Hillel reported in The Daily Targum, a student newspaper, on February 7, 2011 that Jewish studentshave been threatened with violence, made to feel unsafe in their dorms and sought formal counseling because of physical threats as well as emotional and verbal attacks on them. The Los Angeles Times reported on February 9, 2010 that eleven students were arrested for intentionally disrupting a speech by Israels ambassador. And the Israel National News reported on August 3, 2010 that a Jewish student at the University of California at Berkeley was slammed from behind with a shopping cart by another student while holding a sign that read Israel Wants Peace. The assailant, who was arrested by campus police, was a leader of the Students for

Page 2 of 6 September 8, 2011

Justice in Palestine (SJP), and the victim was quoted as saying that SJP students have been terrorizing us for three years with intimidation, accusations and threats. This incident is simply the culmination of it all. Indeed, the assault occurred during an event known as Israel Apartheid Week, an annual event held at many college campuses that first began in 2005. During Israel Apartheid Week in 2010 anti-Israel students at Berkeley actually occupied the campus center, established a physical barrier, and mock Israeli checkpoints and asked students are you Jewish? These are just a few of the instances of threats, harassment, and physical violence of which we are aware. Although we respect and applaud the protection of First Amendment rights, ideas cannot flourish in a hostile environment where Jewish and Israeli students are too intimidated to speak because they fear they will be held collectively responsible for the supposed wrongdoings of the Jewish State of Israel. If academic freedom means anything at all, it must mean that a Jewish student should feel safe enough to publicly wear his yarmulke across campus and not fear verbal or physical anti-Israel abuse; a campus environment where this cannot occur has failed this student and failed to create a diverse and flourishing academic environment. B. Legal Obligations to Prevent Harassment

Moreover, since it receives federal funding, your institution has a legal responsibility to prevent a hostile environment from forming on campus pursuant to Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. 2000d, and its implementing regulations at 34 C.F.R. Part 100 (Title VI). Title VI prohibits discrimination on the basis of national origin in federally assisted programs and activities. The regulation implementing Title VI, at 34 C.F.R. 100.3(a), provides, in part, that no person shall, on the ground of national origin be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity. The regulations implementing Title VI, at 34 C.F.R. 100.3(b)(i)-(iii), prohibit the denial of any service or benefit, the provision of different services or benefits, and separate treatment in a program on the ground of national origin. As the U.S. Dept. of Educations Office of Civil Rights (OCR) stated in a letter on October 26, 2010, which I have attached, these regulations prohibit allowing a hostile environment in an academic setting based on national origin. The OCR noted: Harassment creates a hostile environment when the conduct is sufficiently severe, pervasive, or persistent so as to interfere with or limit a students ability to participate in or benefit from the services, activities, or opportunities offered by a school. It also said: A school is responsible for addressing harassment incidents about which it knows or reasonably should have known. (Emphasis added).

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C.

Legal Obligations to Prevent Anti-Semitism

More importantly, the OCR clarified that anti-Semitic harassment can trigger responsibilities under Title VI. While Title VI does not cover discrimination based solely on religion,[] groups that face discrimination on the basis of actual or perceived shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics may not be denied protection under Title VI on the ground that they also share a common faith. The OCR explicitly listed Jews within this national origin/religious hybrid category of protection and noted that harassment against students who are members of any religious group triggers a schools Title VI responsibilities when the harassment is based on the groups actual or perceived shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics rather than its members religious practices. Therefore, it concluded: A school has responsibilities under Title VI when its students are harassed based on their actual or perceived citizenship or residency in a country whose residents share a dominant religion or a distinct religious identity. (Emphasis added). In other words, your school has a legal obligation under Title VI to specifically protect Jewish/Israeli students from anti-Semitic harassment on campus if these students are being harassed because of their actual or perceived connection to the Jewish State of Israel. Furthermore, the OCRs letter specifically recognized that in cases involving potential Title VI harassment, it is not sufficient to address individual incidents of harassment in isolation. A school that does this has failed to take prompt and effective steps reasonably calculated to end the harassment and prevent its recurrence. Instead, a school must not only discipline individual perpetrators, but it must also take other steps such as publicly labeling the incidents as anti-Semitic, reaffirming the schools policy against discrimination, and publicizing the means by which students may report harassment. Individual acts of anti-Semitic harassment that are premised on anti-Israel stereotypes are a matter of public importance that your school cannot and must not ignore. Of course, vigorous academic debate about Israeli policies is not anti-Semitic or a violation of the hostile environment standards of Title VI, but some forms of anti-Israel expression clearly are anti-Semitic and are meant to threaten, intimidate, and incite. As the Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. recognized in 1968, when people criticize Zionists, they mean Jews. You are talking anti-Semitism. And in determining anti-Semitism, I direct you to the attached State Department letter that clarifies when anti-Israel rhetoric becomes anti-Semitic and which lists several examples. These include, among others, (1) Using the symbols and images associated with classic anti-Semitism to characterize Israel or Israelis, (2) Drawing comparisons of contemporary Israeli policy to that of the Nazis, or (3) Accusing Jews as a people of being responsible for real or imagined wrongdoing committed by a single Jewish person or group, the state of Israel, or even for acts committed by non-Jews.

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Accordingly, given the OCRs understanding of Title VI and the State Departments guidance regarding when anti-Israel speech crosses into the category of antiSemitism, we strongly encourage you and your school to carefully consider its policies regarding legitimate anti-Israel expression and that which is nothing more than incitement and intimidation. In particular, we ask that your school consider policies regarding the use of swastikas at anti-Israel rallies, especially given the historical connotation behind this expression to the Jewish people. Cf. Virginia v. Black et al., 538 U.S. 343 (2003) (upholding ban on cross burnings). D. Legal Obligations to Monitor Student Organization Funding and Activities

In addition to your duty to prevent a hostile environment from occurring at your academic institution, I would also like to alert you regarding another duty related to the funding of student organizations. As you may be aware, some institutions impose a mandatory student activity fee and distribute funds to registered student organizations. See Rosenberger v. Rector and Visitors of the University of Virginia, 515 U.S. 819 (1995) (discussing mandatory student activity fees). Although this funding system can be used to ensure a variety of diverse viewpoints on campus, it can also be abused and lead to criminal liability if your institution remains willfully blind of student organizations that have ties to terrorism or that engage in unlawful activity while abroad while using university funding sources to facilitate this activity. As the Supreme Court recently held in Holder v. Humanitarian Law Project, 561 U.S. ___, 130 S. Ct. 2705 (2010), it is illegal to provide any support to a terrorist organization, even if this support appears to be relatively benign. Indeed, as it noted, Congress found that foreign organizations that engage in terrorist activity are so tainted by their criminal conduct that any contribution to such an organization facilitates that conduct. Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996 (AEDPA), 301(a)(7), 110 Stat. 1247, note following 18 U.S.C. 2339B (Findings and Purpose). Thus, the Supreme Court held that even providing instruction to terrorists on international law could violate U.S. criminal statutes, despite any supposed First Amendment concerns about prohibiting this conduct. Moreover, it noted that [m]oney is fungible and providing any support to a terrorist organization, even for supposed humanitarian purposes, was sufficient to impose criminal liability under 18 U.S.C. 2339B. See Holder, 130 S. Ct. at 2725. Given the broad scope of criminal liability under Holder, your institution must remain vigilant in its funding of student organizations, especially ones that may have ties to terrorist organizations or that might engage in unlawful activity abroad. For example, Hamas is a

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designated Foreign Terrorist Organization. See 62 Fed. Reg. 52650 (Oct. 8, 1997). And the Hamas Covenant in Article II explicitly states it is part of the Moslem Brotherhood, which is an international Islamic organization with branches all over the world. In the United States, the Muslim Students Association (MSA) is the university arm of this organization. Although I have no information that any MSA chapter is directly supporting Hamas at this time, certain MSA chapters have openly supported Hamas in the past, and your institution must remain vigilant of the difference between protected speech and prohibited conduct, especially as it pertains to funds that your institution knowingly provides. There are also other criminal statutes besides funding terrorism that young inexperienced student activists may unintentionally (or intentionally) violate, but which you should be aware of to prevent potentially tragic results. Last year, for instance, student activists at Rutgers University applied for and received funding from the universitys student run allocations committee for an event to support USToGaza, an organization raising money to purchase an American ship to challenge the Israeli military blockade of Gaza. Although there is generally nothing wrong with supporting political activities and discussions, the Rutgers students crossed into dangerous waters, both figuratively and legally. The Neutrality Act, 18 U.S.C. 960, criminally prohibits furnishing money for hostile navel expeditions against a friendly U.S. ally, and this, coupled with the material support statute in 18 U.S.C. 2339B, created the potential for serious legal liability regarding activities that involved Rutgers University and student activity funding. Indeed, on June 24, 2011, the U.S. State Department affirmed the serious nature of this hostile naval activity by stating: We underscore that delivering or attempting or conspiring to deliver material support or other resources to or for the benefit of a designated foreign terrorist organization, such as Hamas, could violate U.S. civil and criminal statutes and could lead to fines and incarceration. Similarly, while there is nothing wrong with expressing strongly held beliefs about American or Israeli foreign policies, students cross a legal line when they conspire on campus to travel abroad and to violate the laws of another sovereign country. For example, student members of the International Solidarity Movement (ISM) have previously traveled to Israel and violated Israeli law in an attempt to undermine what they believe are unlawful security policies. On July 11, 2011, the Associated Press reported that foreign activists had actually destroyed part of a fence that Israeli officials determined was necessary to help prevent suicide bombers. Not only is the action illegal under Israeli law, but it is also illegal under 18 U.S.C. 956, which states: Whoever, within the jurisdiction of the United States, conspires with one or more persons, regardless of where such other person or persons are located, to damage or destroy specific property situated within a foreign country and belonging to a foreign government or to any political subdivision thereof with which the United States is at peaceshall, if any of the

Page 6 of 6 September 8, 2011

conspirators commits an act within the jurisdiction of the United States to effect any object of the conspiracy, be imprisoned not more than 25 years. Consequently, students who meet on campus to conspire to engage in coordinated vandalism against Israeli security barriers are at serious risk of prosecution in this country and abroad. They also undermine American foreign policy, which President Obama articulated on May 19, 2011: As for Israel, our friendship is rooted deeply in a shared history and shared values. Our commitment to Israels security is unshakeable. E. Conclusions

To summarize, although academic and political freedom in the United States is a cherished right, there are limits to these rights that students and campus officials must be made aware, especially with regard to anti-Israel activities. I trust you will do everything in your power to ensure that your institution fully complies with all U.S. laws and regulations, and that such laws, when necessary, are brought to the attention of students and faculty who may be unaware of the potential legal ramifications of their activities. In this regard, you should also be aware that violators of the above laws face criminal and/or civil liability. See, e.g., Franklin v. Gwinnett County Public Schools, 503 U.S. 60, 70 (1992) (implied right of action for damages under Title VI); Wultz v. Islamic Republic of Iran, 755 F. Supp. 2d 1 (D.D.C. 2010) (holding financial institution can be held liable for damages for failing to stop terrorism funding). I thank you for your cooperation in advance.

Very truly yours,

Kenneth A. Leitner, Esq. Attachments: 1. 2. U.S. Department of Education Office of Civil Rights letter dated October 26, 2010 U.S. Department of State Guidance Regarding Anti-Israel and Anti-Semitism

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION OFFICE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS

October26,2010

DearColleague: Inrecentyears,manystatedepartmentsofeducationandlocalschooldistrictshavetaken stepstoreducebullyinginschools.TheU.S.DepartmentofEducation(Department)fully supportstheseefforts.Bullyingfostersaclimateoffearanddisrespectthatcanseriously impairthephysicalandpsychologicalhealthofitsvictimsandcreateconditionsthatnegatively affectlearning,therebyunderminingtheabilityofstudentstoachievetheirfullpotential.The movementtoadoptantibullyingpoliciesreflectsschoolsappreciationoftheirimportant responsibilitytomaintainasafelearningenvironmentforallstudents.Iamwritingtoremind you,however,thatsomestudentmisconductthatfallsunderaschoolsantibullyingpolicyalso maytriggerresponsibilitiesunderoneormoreofthefederalantidiscriminationlawsenforced bytheDepartmentsOfficeforCivilRights(OCR).Asdiscussedinmoredetailbelow,bylimiting itsresponsetoaspecificapplicationofitsantibullyingdisciplinarypolicy,aschoolmayfailto properlyconsiderwhetherthestudentmisconductalsoresultsindiscriminatoryharassment. ThestatutesthatOCRenforcesincludeTitleVIoftheCivilRightsActof1964 1 (TitleVI),which prohibitsdiscriminationonthebasisofrace,color,ornationalorigin;TitleIXoftheEducation Amendmentsof1972 2 (TitleIX),whichprohibitsdiscriminationonthebasisofsex;Section504 oftheRehabilitationActof1973 3 (Section504);andTitleIIoftheAmericanswithDisabilities Actof1990 4 (TitleII).Section504andTitleIIprohibitdiscriminationonthebasisofdisability. 5 SchooldistrictsmayviolatethesecivilrightsstatutesandtheDepartmentsimplementing regulationswhenpeerharassmentbasedonrace,color,nationalorigin,sex,ordisabilityis sufficientlyseriousthatitcreatesahostileenvironmentandsuchharassmentisencouraged, tolerated,notadequatelyaddressed,orignoredbyschoolemployees. 6 Schoolpersonnelwho understandtheirlegalobligationstoaddressharassmentundertheselawsareinthebest positiontopreventitfromoccurringandtorespondappropriatelywhenitdoes.Althoughthis letterfocusesontheelementaryandsecondaryschoolcontext,thelegalprinciplesalsoapply topostsecondaryinstitutionscoveredbythelawsandregulationsenforcedbyOCR. Someschoolantibullyingpoliciesalreadymaylistclassesortraitsonwhichbasesbullyingor harassmentisspecificallyprohibited.Indeed,manyschoolshaveadoptedantibullyingpolicies thatgobeyondprohibitingbullyingonthebasisoftraitsexpresslyprotectedbythefederalcivil
42U.S.C.2000detseq. 20U.S.C.1681etseq. 3 29U.S.C.794. 4 42U.S.C.12131etseq. 5 OCRalsoenforcestheAgeDiscriminationActof1975,42U.S.C.6101etseq.,andtheBoyScoutsofAmericaEqualAccessAct,20U.S.C. 7905.Thisletterdoesnotspecificallyaddressthosestatutes. 6 TheDepartmentsregulationsimplementingthesestatutesarein34C.F.R.parts100,104,and106.Underthesefederalcivilrightslawsand regulations,studentsareprotectedfromharassmentbyschoolemployees,otherstudents,andthirdparties.Thisguidancefocusesonpeer harassment,andarticulatesthelegalstandardsthatapplyinadministrativeenforcementandincourtcaseswhereplaintiffsareseeking injunctiverelief.
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Our mission is to ensure equal access to education and to promote educational excellence throughout the Nation.

Page2DearColleagueLetter:HarassmentandBullying rightslawsenforcedbyOCRrace,color,nationalorigin,sex,anddisabilitytoincludesuch basesassexualorientationandreligion.Whilethisletterconcernsyourlegalobligationsunder thelawsenforcedbyOCR,otherfederal,state,andlocallawsimposeadditionalobligationson schools. 7 And,ofcourse,evenwhenbullyingorharassmentisnotacivilrightsviolation, schoolsshouldstillseektopreventitinordertoprotectstudentsfromthephysicaland emotionalharmsthatitmaycause. Harassingconductmaytakemanyforms,includingverbalactsandnamecalling;graphicand writtenstatements,whichmayincludeuseofcellphonesortheInternet;orotherconductthat maybephysicallythreatening,harmful,orhumiliating.Harassmentdoesnothavetoinclude intenttoharm,bedirectedataspecifictarget,orinvolverepeatedincidents.Harassment createsahostileenvironmentwhentheconductissufficientlysevere,pervasive,orpersistent soastointerferewithorlimitastudentsabilitytoparticipateinorbenefitfromtheservices, activities,oropportunitiesofferedbyaschool.Whensuchharassmentisbasedonrace,color, nationalorigin,sex,ordisability,itviolatesthecivilrightslawsthatOCRenforces. 8 Aschoolisresponsibleforaddressingharassmentincidentsaboutwhichitknowsorreasonably shouldhaveknown. 9 Insomesituations,harassmentmaybeinplainsight,widespread,or wellknowntostudentsandstaff,suchasharassmentoccurringinhallways,duringacademicor physicaleducationclasses,duringextracurricularactivities,atrecess,onaschoolbus,or throughgraffitiinpublicareas.Inthesecases,theobvioussignsoftheharassmentare sufficienttoputtheschoolonnotice.Inothersituations,theschoolmaybecomeawareof misconduct,triggeringaninvestigationthatcouldleadtothediscoveryofadditionalincidents that,takentogether,mayconstituteahostileenvironment.Inallcases,schoolsshouldhave wellpublicizedpoliciesprohibitingharassmentandproceduresforreportingandresolving complaintsthatwillalerttheschooltoincidentsofharassment. 10 Whenrespondingtoharassment,aschoolmusttakeimmediateandappropriateactionto investigateorotherwisedeterminewhatoccurred.Thespecificstepsinaschoolsinvestigation willvarydependinguponthenatureoftheallegations,thesourceofthecomplaint,theageof thestudentorstudentsinvolved,thesizeandadministrativestructureoftheschool,andother factors.Inallcases,however,theinquiryshouldbeprompt,thorough,andimpartial. Ifaninvestigationrevealsthatdiscriminatoryharassmenthasoccurred,aschoolmusttake promptandeffectivestepsreasonablycalculatedtoendtheharassment,eliminateanyhostile
Forinstance,theU.S.DepartmentofJustice(DOJ)hasjurisdictionoverTitleIVoftheCivilRightsActof1964,42U.S.C.2000c(TitleIV),which prohibitsdiscriminationonthebasisofrace,color,sex,religion,ornationaloriginbypublicelementaryandsecondaryschoolsandpublic institutionsofhigherlearning.Statelawsalsoprovideadditionalcivilrightsprotections,sodistrictsshouldreviewthesestatutestodetermine whatprotectionstheyafford(e.g.,somestatelawsspecificallyprohibitdiscriminationonthebasisofsexualorientation). 8 SomeconductallegedtobeharassmentmayimplicatetheFirstAmendmentrightstofreespeechorexpression.Formoreinformationonthe FirstAmendmentsapplicationtoharassment,seethediscussionsinOCRsDearColleagueLetter:FirstAmendment(July28,2003),availableat http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/firstamend.html,andOCRsRevisedSexualHarassmentGuidance:HarassmentofStudentsbySchool Employees,OtherStudents,orThirdParties(Jan.19,2001)(SexualHarassmentGuidance),availableat http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/docs/shguide.html. 9 Aschoolhasnoticeofharassmentifaresponsibleemployeeknew,orintheexerciseofreasonablecareshouldhaveknown,aboutthe harassment. Foradiscussionofwhataresponsibleemployeeis,seeOCRsSexualHarassmentGuidance. 10 Districtsmustadoptandpublishgrievanceproceduresprovidingforpromptandequitableresolutionofstudentandemployeesexand disabilitydiscriminationcomplaints,andmustnotifystudents,parents,employees,applicants,andotherinterestedpartiesthatthedistrict doesnotdiscriminateonthebasisofsexordisability.See28C.F.R.35.106;28C.F.R.35.107(b);34C.F.R.104.7(b);34C.F.R.104.8;34 C.F.R.106.8(b);34C.F.R.106.9.
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Page3DearColleagueLetter:HarassmentandBullying environmentanditseffects,andpreventtheharassmentfromrecurring.Thesedutiesarea schoolsresponsibilityevenifthemisconductalsoiscoveredbyanantibullyingpolicy,and regardlessofwhetherastudenthascomplained,askedtheschooltotakeaction,oridentified theharassmentasaformofdiscrimination. Appropriatestepstoendharassmentmayincludeseparatingtheaccusedharasserandthe target,providingcounselingforthetargetand/orharasser,ortakingdisciplinaryactionagainst theharasser.Thesestepsshouldnotpenalizethestudentwhowasharassed.Forexample,any separationofthetargetfromanallegedharassershouldbedesignedtominimizetheburden onthetargetseducationalprogram(e.g.,notrequiringthetargettochangehisorherclass schedule). Inaddition,dependingontheextentoftheharassment,theschoolmayneedtoprovide trainingorotherinterventionsnotonlyfortheperpetrators,butalsoforthelargerschool community,toensurethatallstudents,theirfamilies,andschoolstaffcanrecognize harassmentifitrecursandknowhowtorespond.Aschoolalsomayberequiredtoprovide additionalservicestothestudentwhowasharassedinordertoaddresstheeffectsofthe harassment,particularlyiftheschoolinitiallydelaysinrespondingorrespondsinappropriately orinadequatelytoinformationaboutharassment.Aneffectiveresponsealsomayneedto includetheissuanceofnewpoliciesagainstharassmentandnewproceduresbywhich students,parents,andemployeesmayreportallegationsofharassment(orwidedissemination ofexistingpoliciesandprocedures),aswellaswidedistributionofthecontactinformationfor thedistrictsTitleIXandSection504/TitleIIcoordinators. 11 Finally,aschoolshouldtakestepstostopfurtherharassmentandpreventanyretaliation againstthepersonwhomadethecomplaint(orwasthesubjectoftheharassment)oragainst thosewhoprovidedinformationaswitnesses.Ataminimum,theschoolsresponsibilities includemakingsurethattheharassedstudentsandtheirfamiliesknowhowtoreportany subsequentproblems,conductingfollowupinquiriestoseeiftherehavebeenanynew incidentsoranyinstancesofretaliation,andrespondingpromptlyandappropriatelytoaddress continuingornewproblems. Whenrespondingtoincidentsofmisconduct,schoolsshouldkeepinmindthefollowing: Thelabelusedtodescribeanincident(e.g.,bullying,hazing,teasing)doesnot determinehowaschoolisobligatedtorespond.Rather,thenatureoftheconductitself mustbeassessedforcivilrightsimplications.So,forexample,iftheabusivebehavioris onthebasisofrace,color,nationalorigin,sex,ordisability,andcreatesahostile environment,aschoolisobligatedtorespondinaccordancewiththeapplicablefederal civilrightsstatutesandregulationsenforcedbyOCR. Whenthebehaviorimplicatesthecivilrightslaws,schooladministratorsshouldlook beyondsimplydiscipliningtheperpetrators.Whilediscipliningtheperpetratorsislikely anecessarystep,itoftenisinsufficient.Aschoolsresponsibilityistoeliminatethe
11

DistrictsmustdesignatepersonsresponsibleforcoordinatingcompliancewithTitleIX,Section504,andTitleII,includingtheinvestigationof anycomplaintsofsexual,genderbased,ordisabilityharassment.See28C.F.R.35.107(a);34C.F.R.104.7(a);34C.F.R.106.8(a).

Page4DearColleagueLetter:HarassmentandBullying hostileenvironmentcreatedbytheharassment,addressitseffects,andtakestepsto ensurethatharassmentdoesnotrecur.Putdifferently,theuniqueeffectsof discriminatoryharassmentmaydemandadifferentresponsethanwouldothertypesof bullying. Below,Iprovidehypotheticalexamplesofhowaschoolsfailuretorecognizestudent misconductasdiscriminatoryharassmentviolatesstudentscivilrights. 12 Ineachofthe examples,theschoolwasonnoticeoftheharassmentbecauseeithertheschoolora responsibleemployeekneworshouldhaveknownofmisconductthatconstitutedharassment. Theexamplesdescribehowtheschoolshouldhaverespondedineachcircumstance. TitleVI:Race,Color,orNationalOriginHarassment SomestudentsanonymouslyinsertedoffensivenotesintoAfricanAmericanstudents lockersandnotebooks,usedracialslurs,andthreatenedAfricanAmericanstudentswho triedtositneartheminthecafeteria.SomeAfricanAmericanstudentstoldschool officialsthattheydidnotfeelsafeatschool.Theschoolinvestigatedandrespondedto individualinstancesofmisconductbyassigningdetentiontothefewstudent perpetratorsitcouldidentify.However,racialtensionsintheschoolcontinuedto escalatetothepointthatseveralfightsbrokeoutbetweentheschoolsracialgroups. Inthisexample,schoolofficialsfailedtoacknowledgethepatternofharassmentas indicativeofaraciallyhostileenvironmentinviolationofTitleVI.Misconductneednot bedirectedataparticularstudenttoconstitutediscriminatoryharassmentandfostera raciallyhostileenvironment.Here,theharassingconductincludedovertlyracist behavior(e.g.,racialslurs)andalsotargetedstudentsonthebasisoftheirrace(e.g., notesdirectedatAfricanAmericanstudents).Thenatureoftheharassment,the numberofincidents,andthestudentssafetyconcernsdemonstratethattherewasa raciallyhostileenvironmentthatinterferedwiththestudentsabilitytoparticipatein theschoolseducationprogramsandactivities. Hadtheschoolrecognizedthataraciallyhostileenvironmenthadbeencreated,it wouldhaverealizedthatitneededtodomorethanjustdisciplinethefewindividuals whomitcouldidentifyashavingbeeninvolved.Byfailingtoacknowledgetheracially hostileenvironment,theschoolfailedtomeetitsobligationtoimplementamore systemicresponsetoaddresstheuniqueeffectthatthemisconducthadontheschool climate.Amoreeffectiveresponsewouldhaveincluded,inadditiontopunishingthe perpetrators,suchstepsasreaffirmingtheschoolspolicyagainstdiscrimination (includingracialharassment),publicizingthemeanstoreportallegationsofracial harassment,trainingfacultyonconstructiveresponsestoracialconflict,hostingclass discussionsaboutracialharassmentandsensitivitytostudentsofotherraces,and conductingoutreachtoinvolveparentsandstudentsinanefforttoidentifyproblems andimprovetheschoolclimate.Finally,hadschoolofficialsrespondedappropriately

12

Eachofthesehypotheticalexamplescontainselementstakenfromactualcases.

Page5DearColleagueLetter:HarassmentandBullying andaggressivelytotheracialharassmentwhentheyfirstbecameawareofit,theschool mighthavepreventedtheescalationofviolencethatoccurred. 13 Overthecourseofaschoolyear,schoolemployeesatajuniorhighschoolreceived reportsofseveralincidentsofantiSemiticconductattheschool.AntiSemiticgraffiti, includingswastikas,wasscrawledonthestallsoftheschoolbathroom.When custodiansdiscoveredthegraffitiandreportedittoschooladministrators,the administratorsorderedthegraffitiremovedbuttooknofurtheraction.Atthesame school,ateachercaughttwoninthgraderstryingtoforcetwoseventhgraderstogive themmoney.Theninthgraderstoldtheseventhgraders,YouJewshaveallofthe money,giveussome.Whenschooladministratorsinvestigatedtheincident,they determinedthattheseventhgraderswerenotactuallyJewish.Theschoolsuspended theperpetratorsforaweekbecauseoftheseriousnatureoftheirmisconduct.Afterthat incident,youngerJewishstudentsstartedavoidingtheschoollibraryandcomputerlab becausetheywerelocatedinthecorridorhousingthelockersoftheninthgraders.At thesameschool,agroupofeighthgradestudentsrepeatedlycalledaJewishstudent DrewthedirtyJew.Theresponsibleeighthgraderswerereprimandedforteasingthe Jewishstudent. TheschooladministratorsfailedtorecognizethatantiSemiticharassmentcantrigger responsibilitiesunderTitleVI.WhileTitleVIdoesnotcoverdiscriminationbasedsolely onreligion, 14 groupsthatfacediscriminationonthebasisofactualorperceivedshared ancestryorethniccharacteristicsmaynotbedeniedprotectionunderTitleVIonthe groundthattheyalsoshareacommonfaith.TheseprinciplesapplynotjusttoJewish students,butalsotostudentsfromanydiscretereligiousgroupthatshares,oris perceivedtoshare,ancestryorethniccharacteristics(e.g.,MuslimsorSikhs).Thus, harassmentagainststudentswhoaremembersofanyreligiousgrouptriggersaschools TitleVIresponsibilitieswhentheharassmentisbasedonthegroupsactualorperceived sharedancestryorethniccharacteristics,ratherthansolelyonitsmembersreligious practices.AschoolalsohasresponsibilitiesunderTitleVIwhenitsstudentsare harassedbasedontheiractualorperceivedcitizenshiporresidencyinacountrywhose residentsshareadominantreligionoradistinctreligiousidentity. 15 Inthisexample,schooladministratorsshouldhaverecognizedthattheharassmentwas basedonthestudentsactualorperceivedsharedancestryorethnicidentityasJews (ratherthanonthestudentsreligiouspractices).Theschoolwasnotrelievedofits responsibilitiesunderTitleVIbecausethetargetsofoneoftheincidentswerenot actuallyJewish.Theharassmentwasstillbasedontheperceivedancestryorethnic characteristicsofthetargetedstudents.Furthermore,theharassmentnegatively affectedtheabilityandwillingnessofJewishstudentstoparticipatefullyintheschools
MoreinformationabouttheapplicablelegalstandardsandOCRsapproachtoinvestigatingallegationsofharassmentonthebasisofrace, color,ornationaloriginisincludedinRacialIncidentsandHarassmentAgainstStudentsatEducationalInstitutions:InvestigativeGuidance,59 Fed.Reg.11,448(Mar.10,1994),availableathttp://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/docs/race394.html. 14 Asnotedinfootnoteseven,DOJhastheauthoritytoremedydiscriminationbasedsolelyonreligionunderTitleIV. 15 MoreinformationabouttheapplicablelegalstandardsandOCRsapproachtoinvestigatingcomplaintsofdiscriminationagainstmembersof religiousgroupsisincludedinOCRsDearColleagueLetter:TitleVIandTitleIXReligiousDiscriminationinSchoolsandColleges(Sept.13,2004), availableathttp://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/religiousrights2004.html.
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Page6DearColleagueLetter:HarassmentandBullying educationprogramsandactivities(e.g.,bycausingsomeJewishstudentstoavoidthe libraryandcomputerlab).Therefore,althoughthedisciplinethattheschoolimposed ontheperpetratorswasanimportantpartoftheschoolsresponse,disciplinealonewas likelyinsufficienttoremedyahostileenvironment.Similarly,removingthegraffiti, whileanecessaryandimportantstep,didnotfullysatisfytheschoolsresponsibilities. Asdiscussedabove,misconductthatisnotdirectedataparticularstudent,likethe graffitiinthebathroom,canstillconstitutediscriminatoryharassmentandfostera hostileenvironment.Finally,thefactthatschoolofficialsconsideredoneofthe incidentsteasingisirrelevantfordeterminingwhetheritcontributedtoahostile environment. Becausetheschoolfailedtorecognizethattheincidentscreatedahostileenvironment, itaddressedeachonlyinisolation,andthereforefailedtotakepromptandeffective stepsreasonablycalculatedtoendtheharassmentandpreventitsrecurrence.In additiontodiscipliningtheperpetrators,remedialstepscouldhaveincludedcounseling theperpetratorsaboutthehurtfuleffectoftheirconduct,publiclylabelingtheincidents asantiSemitic,reaffirmingtheschoolspolicyagainstdiscrimination,andpublicizingthe meansbywhichstudentsmayreportharassment.Providingteacherswithtrainingto recognizeandaddressantiSemiticincidentsalsowouldhaveincreasedthe effectivenessoftheschoolsresponse.Theschoolcouldalsohavecreatedanage appropriateprogramtoeducateitsstudentsaboutthehistoryanddangersofanti Semitism,andcouldhaveconductedoutreachtoinvolveparentsandcommunitygroups inpreventingfutureantiSemiticharassment. TitleIX:SexualHarassment Shortlyafterenrollingatanewhighschool,afemalestudenthadabriefromancewith anotherstudent.Afterthecouplebrokeup,othermaleandfemalestudentsbegan routinelycallingthenewstudentsexuallychargednames,spreadingrumorsabouther sexualbehavior,andsendingherthreateningtextmessagesandemails.Oneofthe studentsteachersandanathleticcoachwitnessedthenamecallingandheardthe rumors,butidentifieditashazingthatnewstudentsoftenexperience.Theyalso noticedthenewstudentsanxietyanddecliningclassparticipation.Theschool attemptedtoresolvethesituationbyrequiringthestudenttoworktheproblemout directlywithherharassers. Sexualharassmentisunwelcomeconductofasexualnature,whichcaninclude unwelcomesexualadvances,requestsforsexualfavors,orotherverbal,nonverbal,or physicalconductofasexualnature.Thus,sexualharassmentprohibitedbyTitleIXcan includeconductsuchastouchingofasexualnature;makingsexualcomments,jokes,or gestures;writinggraffitiordisplayingordistributingsexuallyexplicitdrawings,pictures, orwrittenmaterials;callingstudentssexuallychargednames;spreadingsexualrumors; ratingstudentsonsexualactivityorperformance;orcirculating,showing,orcreatinge mailsorWebsitesofasexualnature.

Page7DearColleagueLetter:HarassmentandBullying Inthisexample,theschoolemployeesfailedtorecognizethatthehazingconstituted sexualharassment.TheschooldidnotcomplywithitsTitleIXobligationswhenitfailed toinvestigateorremedythesexualharassment.Theconductwasclearlyunwelcome, sexual(e.g.,sexualrumorsandnamecalling),andsufficientlyseriousthatitlimitedthe studentsabilitytoparticipateinandbenefitfromtheschoolseducationprogram(e.g., anxietyanddecliningclassparticipation). Theschoolshouldhavetraineditsemployeesonthetypeofmisconductthat constitutessexualharassment.Theschoolalsoshouldhavemadecleartoitsemployees thattheycouldnotrequirethestudenttoconfrontherharassers.Schoolsmayuse informalmechanismsforaddressingharassment,butonlyifthepartiesagreetodoso onavoluntarybasis.HadtheschooladdressedtheharassmentconsistentwithTitleIX, theschoolwouldhave,forexample,conductedathoroughinvestigationandtaken interimmeasurestoseparatethestudentfromtheaccusedharassers.Aneffective responsealsomighthaveincludedtrainingstudentsandemployeesontheschools policiesrelatedtoharassment,institutingnewproceduresbywhichemployeesshould reportallegationsofharassment,andmorewidelydistributingthecontactinformation forthedistrictsTitleIXcoordinator.Theschoolalsomighthaveofferedthetargeted studenttutoring,otheracademicassistance,orcounselingasnecessarytoremedythe effectsoftheharassment. 16 TitleIX:GenderBasedHarassment Overthecourseofaschoolyear,agayhighschoolstudentwascallednames(including antigayslursandsexualcomments)bothtohisfaceandonsocialnetworkingsites, physicallyassaulted,threatened,andridiculedbecausehedidnotconformto stereotypicalnotionsofhowteenageboysareexpectedtoactandappear(e.g., effeminatemannerisms,nontraditionalchoiceofextracurricularactivities,apparel,and personalgroomingchoices).Asaresult,thestudentdroppedoutofthedramaclubto avoidfurtherharassment.Basedonthestudentsselfidentificationasgayandthe homophobicnatureofsomeoftheharassment,theschooldidnotrecognizethatthe misconductincludeddiscriminationcoveredbyTitleIX.Theschoolrespondedto complaintsfromthestudentbyreprimandingtheperpetratorsconsistentwithitsanti bullyingpolicy.Thereprimandsoftheidentifiedperpetratorsstoppedtheharassment bythoseindividuals.Itdidnot,however,stopothersfromundertakingsimilar harassmentofthestudent. Asnotedintheexample,theschoolfailedtorecognizethepatternofmisconductasa formofsexdiscriminationunderTitleIX.TitleIXprohibitsharassmentofbothmaleand femalestudentsregardlessofthesexoftheharasseri.e.,eveniftheharasserand targetaremembersofthesamesex.Italsoprohibitsgenderbasedharassment,which mayincludeactsofverbal,nonverbal,orphysicalaggression,intimidation,orhostility basedonsexorsexstereotyping.Thus,itcanbesexdiscriminationifstudentsare harassedeitherforexhibitingwhatisperceivedasastereotypicalcharacteristicfortheir
16

MoreinformationabouttheapplicablelegalstandardsandOCRsapproachtoinvestigatingallegationsofsexualharassmentisincludedin OCRsSexualHarassmentGuidance,availableathttp://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/docs/shguide.html.

Page8DearColleagueLetter:HarassmentandBullying sex,orforfailingtoconformtostereotypicalnotionsofmasculinityandfemininity.Title IXalsoprohibitssexualharassmentandgenderbasedharassmentofallstudents, regardlessoftheactualorperceivedsexualorientationorgenderidentityofthe harasserortarget. AlthoughTitleIXdoesnotprohibitdiscriminationbasedsolelyonsexualorientation, TitleIXdoesprotectallstudents,includinglesbian,gay,bisexual,andtransgender (LGBT)students,fromsexdiscrimination.Whenstudentsaresubjectedtoharassment onthebasisoftheirLGBTstatus,theymayalso,asthisexampleillustrates,besubjected toformsofsexdiscriminationprohibitedunderTitleIX.Thefactthattheharassment includesantiLGBTcommentsorispartlybasedonthetargetsactualorperceived sexualorientationdoesnotrelieveaschoolofitsobligationunderTitleIXtoinvestigate andremedyoverlappingsexualharassmentorgenderbasedharassment.Inthis example,theharassingconductwasbasedinpartonthestudentsfailuretoactas someofhispeersbelievedaboyshouldact.Theharassmentcreatedahostile environmentthatlimitedthestudentsabilitytoparticipateintheschoolseducation program(e.g.,accesstothedramaclub).Finally,eventhoughthestudentdidnot identifytheharassmentassexdiscrimination,theschoolshouldhaverecognizedthat thestudenthadbeensubjectedtogenderbasedharassmentcoveredbyTitleIX. Inthisexample,theschoolhadanobligationtotakeimmediateandeffectiveactionto eliminatethehostileenvironment.Byrespondingtoindividualincidentsofmisconduct onanadhocbasisonly,theschoolfailedtoconfrontandpreventahostileenvironment fromcontinuing.Hadtheschoolrecognizedtheconductasaformofsexdiscrimination, itcouldhaveemployedthefullrangeofsanctions(includingprogressivediscipline)and remediesdesignedtoeliminatethehostileenvironment.Forexample,thisapproach wouldhaveincludedamorecomprehensiveresponsetothesituationthatinvolved noticetothestudentsteacherssothattheycouldensurethestudentwasnot subjectedtoanyfurtherharassment,moreaggressivemonitoringbystaffoftheplaces whereharassmentoccurred,increasedtrainingonthescopeoftheschoolsharassment anddiscriminationpolicies,noticetothetargetandharassersofavailablecounseling servicesandresources,andeducatingtheentireschoolcommunityoncivilrightsand expectationsoftolerance,specificallyastheyapplytogenderstereotypes.Theschool alsoshouldhavetakenstepstoclearlycommunicatethemessagethattheschooldoes nottolerateharassmentandwillberesponsivetoanyinformationaboutsuch conduct. 17 Section504andTitleII:DisabilityHarassment Severalclassmatesrepeatedlycalledastudentwithalearningdisabilitystupid,idiot, andretardwhileinschoolandontheschoolbus.Ononeoccasion,thesestudents tackledhim,hithimwithaschoolbinder,andthrewhispersonalitemsintothegarbage. Thestudentcomplainedtohisteachersandguidancecounselorthathewascontinually beingtauntedandteased.Schoolofficialsofferedhimcounselingservicesanda
17

GuidanceongenderbasedharassmentisalsoincludedinOCRsSexualHarassmentGuidance,availableat http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/docs/shguide.html.

Page9DearColleagueLetter:HarassmentandBullying psychiatricevaluation,butdidnotdisciplinetheoffendingstudents.Asaresult,the harassmentcontinued.Thestudent,whohadbeenperformingwellacademically, becameangry,frustrated,anddepressed,andoftenrefusedtogotoschooltoavoidthe harassment. Inthisexample,theschoolfailedtorecognizethemisconductasdisabilityharassment underSection504andTitleII.Theharassingconductincludedbehaviorbasedonthe studentsdisability,andlimitedthestudentsabilitytobenefitfullyfromtheschools educationprogram(e.g.,absenteeism).Infailingtoinvestigateandremedythe misconduct,theschooldidnotcomplywithitsobligationsunderSection504andTitleII. Counselingmaybeahelpfulcomponentofaremedyforharassment.Inthisexample, however,sincetheschoolfailedtorecognizethebehaviorasdisabilityharassment,the schooldidnotadoptacomprehensiveapproachtoeliminatingthehostileenvironment. Suchstepsshouldhaveatleastincludeddisciplinaryactionagainsttheharassers, consultationwiththedistrictsSection504/TitleIIcoordinatortoensurea comprehensiveandeffectiveresponse,specialtrainingforstaffonrecognizingand effectivelyrespondingtoharassmentofstudentswithdisabilities,andmonitoringto ensurethattheharassmentdidnotresume. 18 Iencourageyoutoreevaluatethepoliciesandpracticesyourschoolusestoaddressbullying 19 andharassmenttoensurethattheycomplywiththemandatesofthefederalcivilrightslaws. Foryourconvenience,thefollowingisalistofonlineresourcesthatfurtherdiscussthe obligationsofdistrictstorespondtoharassmentprohibitedunderthefederal antidiscriminationlawsenforcedbyOCR: SexualHarassment:ItsNotAcademic(Revised2008): http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/docs/ocrshpam.html DearColleagueLetter:SexualHarassmentIssues(2006): http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/letters/sexhar2006.html DearColleagueLetter:ReligiousDiscrimination(2004): http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/religiousrights2004.html DearColleagueLetter:FirstAmendment(2003): http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/firstamend.html

MoreinformationabouttheapplicablelegalstandardsandOCRsapproachtoinvestigatingallegationsofdisabilityharassmentisincludedin OCRsDearColleagueLetter:ProhibitedDisabilityHarassment(July25,2000),availableat http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/docs/disabharassltr.html. 19 Forresourcesonpreventingandaddressingbullying,pleasevisithttp://www.bullyinginfo.org,aWebsiteestablishedbyafederalInteragency WorkingGrouponYouthPrograms.ForinformationontheDepartmentsbullyingpreventionresources,pleasevisittheOfficeofSafeand DrugFreeSchoolsWebsiteathttp://www.ed.gov/offices/OESE/SDFS.ForinformationonregionalEquityAssistanceCentersthatassist schoolsindevelopingandimplementingpoliciesandpracticestoaddressissuesregardingrace,sex,ornationalorigindiscrimination,please visithttp://www.ed.gov/programs/equitycenters.

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Page10DearColleagueLetter:HarassmentandBullying SexualHarassmentGuidance(Revised2001): http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/docs/shguide.html DearColleagueLetter:ProhibitedDisabilityHarassment(2000): http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/docs/disabharassltr.html RacialIncidentsandHarassmentAgainstStudents(1994): http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/docs/race394.html PleasealsonotethatOCRhasaddednewdataitemstobecollectedthroughitsCivilRightsData Collection(CRDC),whichsurveysschooldistrictsinavarietyofareasrelatedtocivilrightsin education.TheCRDCnowrequiresdistrictstocollectandreportinformationonallegationsof harassment,policiesregardingharassment,anddisciplineimposedforharassment.In200910, theCRDCcoverednearly7,000schooldistricts,includingalldistrictswithmorethan3,000 students.FormoreinformationabouttheCRDCdataitems,pleasevisit http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/whatsnew.html. OCRiscommittedtoworkingwithschools,students,studentsfamilies,communityand advocacyorganizations,andotherinterestedpartiestoensurethatstudentsarenotsubjected toharassment.PleasedonothesitatetocontactOCRifwecanprovideassistanceinyour effortstoaddressharassmentorifyouhaveothercivilrightsconcerns. FortheOCRregionalofficeservingyourstate,pleasevisit: http://wdcrobcolp01.ed.gov/CFAPPS/OCR/contactus.cfm,orcallOCRsCustomerServiceTeam at18004213481. Ilookforwardtocontinuingourworktogethertoensureequalaccesstoeducation,andto promotesafeandrespectfulschoolclimatesforAmericasstudents. Sincerely, /s/ RusslynnAli AssistantSecretaryforCivilRights

U.S.DepartmentofEducation OfficeforCivilRights DearColleagueLetterHarassmentandBullying(October26,2010) Background,Summary,andFastFacts

Whatarethepossibleeffectsofstudentonstudentharassmentandbullying? Loweredacademicachievementandaspirations Increasedanxiety Lossofselfesteemandconfidence Depressionandposttraumaticstress Generaldeteriorationinphysicalhealth Selfharmandsuicidalthinking Feelingsofalienationintheschoolenvironment,suchasfearofotherchildren Absenteeismfromschool

WhatdoestheDearColleagueletter(DCL)do? Clarifies the relationship between bullying and discriminatory harassment under the civil rightslawsenforcedbytheDepartmentofEducations(ED)OfficeforCivilRights(OCR). Explains how student misconduct that falls under an antibullying policy also may trigger responsibilitiesunderoneormoreoftheantidiscriminationstatutesenforcedbyOCR. Remindsschoolsthatfailuretorecognizediscriminatoryharassmentwhenaddressingstudent misconductmayleadtoinadequateorinappropriateresponsesthatfailtoremedyviolations ofstudentscivilrights.Collegesanduniversitieshavethesameobligationsundertheanti discriminationstatutesaselementaryandsecondaryschools. Discusses racial and national origin harassment, sexual harassment, genderbased harassment, and disability harassment and illustrates how a school should respond in each case.

WhyisEDIssuingtheDCL? EDisissuingtheDCLtoclarifytherelationshipbetweenbullyinganddiscriminatoryharassment,and toremindschoolsthatbylimitingtheirresponsestoaspecificapplicationofanantibullyingorother disciplinarypolicy,theymayfailtoproperlyconsiderwhetherthestudentmisconductalsoresultsin discriminationinviolationofstudentsfederalcivilrights. WhataretheantidiscriminationstatutesthattheOfficeforCivilRightsenforces? Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color,ornationalorigin. TitleIXoftheEducationAmendmentsof1972,whichprohibitsdiscriminationonthebasisof sex. Section504oftheRehabilitationActof1973andTitleIIoftheAmericanswithDisabilitiesAct of1990,whichprohibitdiscriminationonthebasisofdisability. 1

Whatareaschoolsobligationsundertheseantidiscriminationstatutes? Onceaschoolknowsorreasonablyshouldknowofpossiblestudentonstudentharassment, it must take immediate and appropriate action to investigate or otherwise determine what occurred. If harassment has occurred, a school must take prompt and effective steps reasonably calculated to end the harassment, eliminate any hostile environment, and prevent its recurrence.Thesedutiesareaschoolsresponsibilityevenifthemisconductalsoiscovered byanantibullyingpolicyandregardlessofwhetherthestudentmakesacomplaint,asksthe schooltotakeaction,oridentifiestheharassmentasaformofdiscrimination.

HowcanIgethelpfromOCR? OCRofferstechnicalassistancetohelpschoolsachievevoluntarycompliancewiththecivilrightslaws it enforces and works with schools to develop creative approaches to preventing and addressing discrimination. A school should contact the OCR enforcement office serving its jurisdiction for technical assistance. For contact information, please visit EDs website at http://wdcrobcolp01.ed.gov/CFAPPS/OCR/contactus.cfm. AcomplaintofdiscriminationcanbefiledbyanyonewhobelievesthataschoolthatreceivesFederal financialassistancehasdiscriminatedagainstsomeoneonthebasisofrace,color,nationalorigin,sex, disability,orage.Thepersonororganizationfilingthecomplaintneednotbeavictimofthealleged discrimination,butmaycomplainonbehalfofanotherpersonorgroup.Informationabouthowto fileacomplaintwithOCRisathttp://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/complaintintro.htmlorby contactingOCRsCustomerServiceTeamat18004213481.

OCRalsoenforcestheAgeDiscriminationActof1975andtheBoyScoutsofAmericaEqualAccessAct.TheDCLdoesnot addressthesestatutes.

Anti-Semitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of anti-Semitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.
WORKING DEFINITION of ANTI-SEMITISM by the European Monitoring Center on Racism and Xenophobia

CONTEMPORARY EXAMPLES Of ANTI-SEMITISM

Calling for, aiding, or justifying the killing or harming of Jews (often in the name of a radical ideology or an extremist view of religion). Making mendacious, dehumanizing, demonizing, or stereotypical allegations about Jews as such or the power of Jews as a collective especially but not exclusively, the myth about a world Jewish conspiracy or of Jews controlling the media, economy, government or other societal institutions. Accusing Jews as a people of being responsible for real or imagined wrongdoing committed by a single Jewish person or group, the state of Israel, or even for acts committed by non-Jews. Accusing the Jews as a people, or Israel as a state, of inventing or exaggerating the Holocaust. Accusing Jewish citizens of being more loyal to Israel, or to the alleged priorities of Jews worldwide, than to the interest of their own nations.

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WhAT IS ANTI-SEMITISM RELATIvE TO ISRAEL?

EXAMPLES of the ways in which anti-Semitism manifests itself with regard to the state of Israel, taking into account the overall context could include: DEMONIZE ISRAEL:

Using the symbols and images associated with classic anti-Semitism to characterize Israel or Israelis Drawing comparisons of contemporary Israeli policy to that of the Nazis Blaming Israel for all inter-religious or political tensions

DOUBLE STANDARD FOR ISRAEL:

Applying double standards by requiring of it a behavior not expected or demanded of any other democratic nation Multilateral organizations focusing on Israel only for peace or human rights investigations

DELEGITIMIZE ISRAEL:

Denying the Jewish people their right to self-determination, and denying Israel the right to exist

However, criticism of Israel similar to that leveled against any other country cannot be regarded as anti-Semitic.

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