UC Berkeley shares names of students, staff with feds amid antisemitism investigation

"BERKELEY - The names of more than 160 students, staff and faculty members at the University of California, Berkeley, have been handed over to the federal government in cooperation with an investigation into antisemitism on college campuses. Individuals were notified that their personal information was shared with the Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights last week, university spokesperson Janet Gilmore confirmed in a statement."

"In an Instagram post, UC Berkeley Students for Justice in Palestine called the Department of Education's investigation a "witch hunt over fabricated claims of antisemitism," and the university's cooperation "craven" and "corrupt." The student group claimed the university had previously assured students, staff and faculty that their identities would be protected. Informing individuals that their information had been shared two weeks after doing so only added to what the group described as a "betrayal," and a "hollow gesture of transparency that only underscores Berkeley's duplicity.""

More than 160 UC Berkeley students, staff and faculty had their names and personal information shared with the federal government in cooperation with an investigation into antisemitism. Individuals received notifications that their data was shared with the Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights. The Department of Education and U.S. Justice Department have been investigating the University of California to determine whether the system permitted antisemitism and discriminated against members of the community. UC Berkeley Students for Justice in Palestine condemned the investigation as a "witch hunt" and criticized the university for sharing identifying information after prior assurances of protection. The university said the systemwide Office of the General Counsel complied with legal obligations and that reports provided to that office included names.

Read at The Mercury News