University of Michigan May Fire D.E.I. Official Over Antisemitism Claim

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U.S.|University of Michigan May Fire D.E.I. Official Over Antisemitism Claim

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/12/us/university-of-michigan-dei-administrator-antisemitism.html

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The official, an administrator of multicultural programs, was accused of making antisemitic remarks in a conversation. She has denied the allegations.

A woman carrying a tote bag walks across the University of Michigan campus.

Dec. 12, 2024Updated 6:23 p.m. ET

The University of Michigan is considering firing an administrator who works on diversity initiatives over accusations that she made antisemitic comments, according to her lawyer.

The administrator, Rachel Dawson, is director of the university’s office of academic multicultural initiatives. She was accused of saying in a conversation at a conference in March that the university was “controlled by wealthy Jews,” according to documents obtained by The New York Times through a freedom of information request.

She was also accused of saying that Jewish students were “wealthy and privileged” and not in need of her office’s diversity services, and that “Jewish people have no genetic DNA that would connect them to the land of Israel,” according to the documents, which were part of a complaint from the Anti-Defamation League of Michigan.

Fallout over the episode has been playing out behind the scenes at a moment when the campus is also on edge following vandalism, including pro-Palestinian graffiti, at the home of a Board of Regents member who is Jewish. The school’s campus in Ann Arbor has also faced student protests over plans to roll back some diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.

According to emails obtained The Times, university leaders had planned on a lesser punishment for Ms. Dawson, but a regent argued that she should be fired.

Ms. Dawson, who has been in her current job just over a year, is now on leave. The office of academic multicultural initiatives oversees efforts to mentor and retain racially, culturally and economically diverse students.