WASHINGTON - The federal government has launched civil rights investigations into seven educational institutions over accusations of antisemitism or Islamophobia following the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas conflict. The Education Department announced these inquiries on Thursday as part of the Biden administration's commitment to combat discrimination.

Among the institutions under investigation are three prestigious Ivy League universities: Columbia, Cornell, and the University of Pennsylvania. Wellesley College in Massachusetts, Lafayette College in Pennsylvania, Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art in New York, and Maize Unified School District in Kansas also face scrutiny.

Education Secretary Miguel Cardona emphasized that schools have a legal obligation to take action when students are targeted based on their perceived ethnicity or shared ancestry, whether it be Jewish, Muslim, Arab, Sikh, or any other ethnic background. Violating civil rights laws may result in penalties, including the loss of federal funding, though many cases are resolved through voluntary settlements.

Out of the seven investigations, five are in response to allegations of antisemitic harassment, while the other two are related to allegations of anti-Muslim harassment. The Education Department did not disclose the specific accusations against each school and did not release any details about individual complaints.

Most of the institutions either declined to comment or did not provide an immediate response regarding the investigations. Lafayette College expressed confusion as to why they were being examined, stating that they maintain a strong stance against antisemitism, Islamophobia, or hate speech of any kind. The college pledged full cooperation with the Department of Education's investigation.

The investigations are based on potential discrimination related to shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics, which is a violation of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Under this federal law, schools are required to protect students from discrimination and address any harassment that creates a hostile environment. Any individual can file a complaint alleging such discrimination.

The Israel-Hamas war has sparked heightened emotions on many college campuses across the United States. At Columbia University, tensions have escalated as pro-Israel activists and Palestinian students and their allies have engaged in dueling demonstrations. Cornell University recently dealt with an incident where a student was arrested for making threatening statements against Jewish individuals. Cooper Union faces allegations that it failed to protect Jewish students during a pro-Palestine demonstration in October, leaving them seeking refuge in a campus library.

Moreover, Palestinian and Muslim students have reported increased instances of harassment on campuses nationwide. At Columbia University, students have taken to protesting this week after the suspension of two pro-Palestinian groups that have come under scrutiny within the U.S. higher education system.

Catherine E. Lhamon, the assistant secretary of civil rights for the Department of Education, expressed concern over the fear experienced by students and school communities as hate proliferates in educational environments.

These investigations are the latest actions taken by the Biden administration to address discrimination on college campuses. Last week, the Education Department sent a letter to universities reminding them of their legal obligations under the Civil Rights Act. Secretary Cardona has also recently engaged in discussions with leaders of Muslim, Arab, and Jewish groups to address discrimination issues.

In addition to the complaints filed with the Education Department, some students have resorted to legal action, filing lawsuits alleging civil rights violations. Three Jewish students from New York University filed a lawsuit this week, accusing the institution of failing to address persistent antisemitism, exacerbated since the incursion by Hamas militants on October 7.

As these investigations progress, the government continues to prioritize the protection of students and the creation of inclusive and discrimination-free educational environments.