Reed College agrees to sweeping reforms to settle antisemitism investigations

Reed College has agreed to significant reforms to resolve multiple federal antisemitism investigations, parties announced Wednesday. The private liberal arts school in Portland, Oregon, will incorporate new language into its discrimination policy stating that "for many Jewish people, Zionism is integral to their religious, ancestral and/or ethnic Jewish identity." The policy will also assert that "targeting Jews on the basis of their Zionist identity" constitutes discrimination.

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We take concerns about antisemitism, and all forms of unlawful discrimination, seriously, and we will continue to support the well-being, safety, and success of every member of our community.

This settlement, filed under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act which prohibits discrimination at federally funded institutions, comes as many campuses are negotiating new antisemitism protections to avoid losing federal funding. Reed College will also engage a third-party consultant to monitor its adherence to these protections and will "consider" the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's working definition of antisemitism. Faculty and staff will undergo antisemitism training.

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We believe it should serve as a model for other schools.

"We take concerns about antisemitism, and all forms of unlawful discrimination, seriously, and we will continue to support the well-being, safety, and success of every member of our community," a Reed College spokesperson told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency. The college declined to comment further.

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This outcome demonstrates how the Title VI process can work to effectively protect Jewish students.

The Anti-Defamation League and the Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law, which jointly filed the complaint, lauded the agreement. ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt stated, "This outcome demonstrates how the Title VI process can work to effectively protect Jewish students." Denise Katz-Prober, director of legal initiatives at the Brandeis Center, called the required policy language "very clear about what constitutes anti-Zionist conduct in violation of civil rights and in violation of the policy," believing it should serve as a model for other schools.

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very clear about what constitutes anti-Zionist conduct in violation of civil rights and in violation of the policy.