As Students Return to Campus, Ranking Member Scott Urges Schools to Share Plans to Foster Safe, Welcoming Campuses

As Students Return to Campus, Ranking Member Scott Urges Schools to Share Plans to Foster Safe, Welcoming Campuses

WASHINGTON - Today, in an open letter to schools, Ranking Member Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03) urgedcampus leaders to ensure that they are equipped to create safe and healthy learning environments for students and faculty ahead of the upcoming academic year.

The letter comes nearly a year after many college campuses became the site of intense protests and heightened antisemitic and Islamophobic incidents. Following these incidents, the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has investigated complaints at several schools and proposed resolutions to ensure that schools live up to their obligations under title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1984 (Title VI) to take prompt and effective action to address campus discrimination.

"As OCR has stated, there is no inconsistency between upholding First Amendment rights on campus and maintaining safe learning environments for all students regardless of their race, shared ancestry, or national origin." Ranking Member Scottwrote. "While schools can achieve both goals, it will take diligence, thoughtfulness, and dedicated resources to do so effectively. As such I want to make sure you are aware of resources at the federal level designed to help schools in these efforts."

Further, Ranking Member Scott underscores that all students, faculty, and staff should have access to the Department of Education's most updated materials and that encourages campuses to make everyone aware of any additional resources the campus plans to provide.

To read the full text of the letter, click here.

###

Press Contact

Contact:Democratic Press Office, 202-226-0853