On March 6, the Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law announced that they had filed a federal complaint with the U.S. Department of Education (ED) against Scripps College, alleging that the college is in violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The complaint requests the ED to initiate an investigation into Scripps.
The 29-page complaint, filed jointly by the Brandeis Center, Anti-Defamation League (ADL), and the law firm Arnold & Porter, claims that Scripps administration has turned a blind eye to antisemitic harassment and prejudice on campus. Title VI states that “no person in the United States shall, on the ground of race, color, or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.”
According to the complaint, a Jewish student was asked to remove her Star of David necklace and experienced ostracization from her peers after attending Shabbat dinners. The Motley Coffeehouse, the social hub of Scripps College, was also mentioned for their refusal to hang an Israeli flag, as well as conversations overheard among workers where managers mentioned opposition to hiring a “Zionist.”
This is not the first time the Brandeis Center and ADL have contacted Scripps regarding antisemitism at the Motley. In July 2024, the organizations wrote a letter to the Scripps President Amy Marcus-Newhall, “explaining, among other things, that Jewish student groups' requests to host Jewish events at the Motley were ignored or rejected.” According to the Brandeis Center, Scripps' failure to disavow the Motley's alleged antisemitism was in violation of Title VI.
The complaint also refers to the October 7 occupation of Pomona College's Carnegie Hall and the campus bans issued to Scripps students, asserting that Scripps has worked to ensure that these campus bans will not have a large impact on protesters. Scripps has not enacted any disciplinary action against students involved in the invasion of Carnegie Hall, but instead, has “offer[ed] support in brainstorming and preparing appeal letters, including discussing individual circumstances and how students can best present their perspectives in the appeal process.” In the complaint, the Brandeis Center alleges that this action of the administration sends a message of support of antisemitism, and is a violation of Title VI.
According to ADL's Antisemitism Campus Report Card, Scripps College receives an “F,” indicating that the campus is a hostile environment for Jewish students. This environment “has had a significant impact on Jewish and Israeli students and has forced them to conceal the Zionist component of their Jewish identities.” The complaint further alleges that Jewish students frequently choose to transfer from Scripps, study abroad, or graduate early “just to escape the hostile environment.”
The complaint offers 21 proposed action steps in order for Scripps College to comply with Title VI, including providing training to Scripps faculty on antisemitism, issuing a statement denouncing all forms of antisemitism, and creating a long-term task force centered around addressing antisemitism on campus. They also encourage Scripps to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s definition of antisemitism in all “policies and policy manuals related to non-discrimination and codes of conduct.”
Scripps College could not be immediately reached for comment. This story will be updated as more information becomes available.