Madison Reporter

The University of Wisconsin-Madison has reiterated its stance against antisemitism and affirmed its commitment to fostering an inclusive campus environment. This comes as the university addresses a Title VI complaint, which is part of an inquiry involving 60 universities, as noted by the Department of Education.

The university continues to cooperate with inquiries from the Office for Civil Rights (OCR). Additional details about the complaint from January 2024 can be found on their website.

In preparation for the 2024-25 academic year, UW-Madison has taken several measures to support its Jewish community and uphold free expression. The university has revised protest guidelines into a new Expressive Activity Policy, outlining rules and restrictions on time, place, and manner. These infractions may result in disciplinary actions through campus conduct processes or law enforcement.

Moreover, guidance on political activity and public advocacy has been issued campus-wide. A mandatory training program on free expression for new students includes discussions on offensive speech and Title VI discrimination, focusing on shared ancestry discrimination. This training is also available to faculty and staff.

Bias reports are now centralized within the Office of Compliance for Title VI analysis. The student organization code of conduct has been revised to ensure accountability. A new policy clarifies limitations on public position statements made by or on behalf of UW-Madison.

Senior leaders at UW-Madison continue participation in Hillel’s Campus Climate Initiative (CCI), which provides additional training for staff across various departments.

These efforts align with broader university initiatives aimed at building a welcoming community that bridges differences and prevents antisemitism.