Nadine Osman
The Michigan chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MI) filed a complaint against the University of Michigan, accusing it of failing to protect Palestinian, Arab, Muslim, and South Asian students from discrimination. The complaint, submitted to the US Department of Education, calls for an investigation into whether the university violated federal laws by wilfully neglecting these students.
The complaint follows a leaked audio recording in which the University’s President Santa Ono allegedly admits that schools feel more pressure to address anti-Semitism than Islamophobia. The recording, shared by the student group Tahrir Coalition, captures Ono suggesting that federal funding could be used to pressure the university to prioritize antisemitism cases.
“‘The government says we will withhold your $2bn in federal funding if you don’t address antisemitism,’ Ono reportedly said in audio leaked on October 6. He acknowledged Islamophobia as an issue but noted that addressing it wouldn’t appease those applying pressure. ‘The university is not doing enough to combat Islamophobia, and that’s not what they want to hear. So, the whole situation is not balanced.’”
The audio also references “powerful groups” holding universities accountable mainly for anti-Semitism, with congressional hearings focused almost entirely on that. It’s unclear if these comments were made in the same context as the earlier ones.
This incident is the latest in a string of controversies at the University. Last spring, students protested Israel’s military actions in Gaza, demanding divestment from companies profiting from the occupation of Palestine. In May, riot police cleared the protests, using pepper spray and making arrests.
The Tahrir Coalition stated, “Our university will use every avenue of repression to protect its profits from genocide, but our movement will be victorious. Santa Ono will never wash himself clean of his crimes against humanity, and his memory will forever stain this university’s legacy.”
The Tahrir Coalition, a student-led movement of over 100 organisations, advocates for divestment from “settler colonialism, occupation, apartheid, and genocide” in Palestine and beyond.
According to CAIR-MI’s complaint, the rights group has repeatedly contacted the university about the treatment of Muslims, Palestinians, Arabs, South Asians, and their pro-Palestinian allies on campus, arguing that these concerns have been ignored.
As a result, CAIR-MI is urging the Department of Education to investigate whether the University of Michigan complies with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination based on race, colour, or national origin at federally funded institutions.
“We urge President Ono to do what is right and ensure that the University of Michigan is in compliance with its obligations under federal and state law,” said Amy Doukoure, a staff attorney for CAIR-MI. “No students, staff, or faculty should experience a hostile environment on campus due to Islamophobia or anti-Arab bias.” Doukoure emphasised that there should be “no excuse or exceptions” for the university’s failure to address Islamophobia, regardless of pressure from external groups or political interests.
Photo: In a leaked audio recording, University of Michigan President Santa Ono, shown here, reportedly acknowledges that schools are under greater pressure to tackle anti-Semitism compared to Islamophobia. (Credit: Corey Seeman/Flickr Commons)
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