Indiana AG warns state colleges to protect Jewish students or risk federal funds

Citing several protests of Israel’s strikes against Hamas in Gaza that have taken place at colleges across Indiana, state Attorney General Todd Rokita reminded higher education leaders their institutions could see their federal funding stripped if they do not protect the civil rights of their Jewish students.

Rokita sent a letter to university officials earlier this week saying antisemitic attacks that take place “without corrective measures” would allow Jewish students to file lawsuits, citing Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. That provision in the historic legislation bans discrimination on the basis of such factors as race, nationality or creed.

One of the incidents noted in the letter occurred at Purdue University. According to Ben Silverman, a Purdue student who testified in January before an Indiana General Assembly committee, representatives from Students for Justice in Palestine harassed and intimidated members of a Jewish fraternity because their group displayed an Israeli flag at their house.

“Similarly, acts such as vandalizing student spaces with swastikas, allowing antisemitic graffiti to be painted on your sidewalks or allowing students to rip mezuzahs off the doors of Jewish students in university housing are causes for Title VI action,” Rokita wrote.

While demonstrations at Indiana University in Bloomington have received the most attention, protests have taken place at other state universities. Earlier this month, roughly 200 people attended a rally on the campus of Ball State University in Muncie, where protestors called on the school to divest from Israel and for Israeli and American leaders to be arrested for violence against those living in Gaza.

Rokita sent Rick Hall, the chairman of Ball State’s board of trustees, the seven-page letter Monday. The attorney general’s office confirmed to The Center Square that trustees for IU, Purdue, Ball State, Indiana State, IUPUI, the University of Southern Indiana, Ivy Tech and Vincennes University also received the same letter.

Additionally, Rokita reminded university leaders that a new state law will take effect in July, which requires public universities to ensure taxpayer funds are not used to support terrorist groups. That includes student groups, he said and noted that anyone inciting violence or committing other crimes may not be able to cite their First Amendment rights as a defense.

“Protecting our Jewish students requires accountability on the university’s part,” Rokita wrote in concluding the letter. “I strongly encourage them to enforce university codes of conduct and the law when necessary to put an end to antisemitism and the promotion of terrorism on your campuses. That way, we can ensure that all students, including our Jewish brothers and sisters, are safe and have an equal access to education.”