Dear Students, Faculty, and Staff Members,

Late last month, the Council on American Islamic Relations and the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee announced that they have filed a Title VI complaint against Swarthmore College with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights (OCR). The complaint alleges the College has engaged in discriminatory behavior and harassment toward Palestinian, Arab, and Muslim members of the campus community.

Without equivocation, I wholeheartedly condemn all forms of discrimination — including Islamophobia and anti-Arab hate. I remain committed to ensuring that everyone on campus can learn, work, and live in an environment free of intimidation, harassment, and discrimination. Through words and actions, the College has upheld its policies designed to support that fundamental value.

We planned to share this news with you once we received notice from OCR that they were opening an investigation based on the complaint. We followed a similar process in the spring when a separate Title VI complaint was filed against the College; in that instance, we sent a message to campus only after we heard from OCR. However, we have not yet heard from OCR on this matter, and given that several weeks have passed since we first learned about the complaint and some members of the campus community have asked about its status, we felt it was best to share this information with you now. The College will comply with the law and the important anti-discrimination protections it affords. We will fully cooperate with OCR and any review it conducts. 

I encourage all members of our community to work to foster a welcoming, inclusive environment where everyone can thrive and feel a true sense of belonging.

Sincerely, 

Valerie Smith
President