Cal State targeted by federal officials in antisemitism inquiry

By María Paula Mijares Torres and Felipe Marques, Bloomberg

Federal officials have opened inquiries into California State University for allegations of antisemitism and claims of racial discrimination tied to a diversity hiring initiative.

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The US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has launched an investigation into claims of antisemitism and was reaching out to employees to gather evidence, Chancellor Mildred García said in a message to the school community on Friday that was seen by Bloomberg.

The US Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights is examining CSU’s past participation in The PhD Project — a nonprofit that works to diversify business education — over claims of racial discrimination.

The Los Angeles Times was first to report on the inquiries.

Federal investigators have subpoenaed the university for employees’ personal contact information as part of a broader antisemitism probe, the newspaper reported. The campus, one of 22 in the CSU system, hosted a Gaza Solidarity Encampment during nationwide protests over Israel’s war in Gaza.

The Justice Department and the EEOC is also pursuing similar investigations on antisemitism and discrimination across the University of California as well.

García said CSU has always complied with state and federal law and doesn’t give preferential treatment based on race or religion. The university is cooperating with the federal inquiries, she added.

CSU participated in The PhD Project for university job postings until 2024, a university spokesperson said in a statement without explaining why it ended the association.

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