US fed agency asks staff in Bernard College if they're Jewish
3 Min Read
The texts raised concern as federal investigators examine claims of antisemitism on campus.
-
Banners hang from a building at Barnard College, May 28, 2015, in New York. (AP)
Faculty and staff at Barnard College received unexpected text messages from the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) this week, inquiring about their Jewish or Israeli identity as part of an ongoing federal investigation into alleged antisemitism on campus.​
The EEOC messages, sent directly to personal mobile phones, included a link to a Microsoft Form survey asking recipients to indicate if they are "Jewish, Israeli, or have Jewish/Israeli ancestry," as described by the questionnaire. The survey also queried whether individuals had experienced antisemitic incidents at work, ranging from "unwelcome comments to disruptive protests".​
Barnard College later confirmed that it had shared employee contact information with the EEOC, stating that the agency was legally entitled to obtain the data. The college's general counsel, Serena Longley, assured staff that participation in the survey was voluntary and pledged to inform employees in advance of any future disclosures, unless prohibited by court order.​
Faculty express alarm over government's approach
The method of outreach has sparked concern among faculty members. Debbie Becher, a Jewish associate professor of sociology at Barnard, described the government's tactic as "incredibly sinister," expressing unease over the direct approach to identifying Jewish individuals via text message.​
Nara Milanich, a history professor at Barnard, drew parallels to historical instances of persecution, stating, "We've seen this movie before, and it ends with yellow stars," referencing fascist regimes' targeting of Jewish populations.​
Broader context of federal scrutiny on universities
The EEOC's investigation at Barnard is part of a wider federal effort under the Trump administration to address allegations of antisemitism in higher education institutions. Columbia University, with which Barnard is affiliated, has faced similar scrutiny, including the cancellation of $400 million in federal grants and contracts due to perceived inadequate responses to antisemitic incidents on campus.​
Executive Order 14188, signed by President Trump in January 2025, mandates federal agencies to combat antisemitism, particularly in educational settings. The order has led to increased monitoring of universities and has raised concerns among civil liberties groups regarding potential infringements on free speech and academic freedom.​
As the investigation continues, faculty and staff at Barnard and Columbia remain apprehensive about the implications of the federal government's methods in addressing campus antisemitism.​
US investigating 60 universities for pro-Palestine protests
In March, the US Department of Education announced that it is investigating 60 colleges and universities, mainly those whose students established pro-Palestine encampments throughout the Israeli war on Gaza, over allegations of antisemitic harassment and discrimination, marking an escalation in the administration’s crackdown on campus demonstrations.
Trump's administration stripped Columbia University of approximately $400 million in federal grants and contracts, citing what it called the university’s "continued inaction" in addressing alleged harassment of Jewish students.
The US House Committee on Education and the Workforce demanded in February that Columbia University submit disciplinary records by the end of this month for students involved in anti-Israeli protests between January and April 2024, criticizing the Ivy League institution’s handling of the matter.
