As many of our readers are aware at this time, Portland State is now one of five universities currently under investigation by the Departments of Education, Justice, and Health and Human Services for failing to address widespread antisemitism on campus. According to reports trickling down from the university administration, this investigation is not based on any known student complaints about anti-Semitic incidents on campus; in fact, the only Title VI investigation currently open against the University is related to anti-Palestinian and anti-Muslim hate speech. 

Given a lack of empirical evidence of the widespread antisemitism the case claims as its motivation, this investigation appears instead to be the foundation of a campaign to systematically dismantle Palestinian solidarity efforts and discredit the higher education system. We believe that PSU is being targeted because for over the last 16 months, students, staff, and faculty have engaged in efforts to raise awareness and sound the alarm on the ongoing genocide in Gaza, and to document the anti-Palestinian and Islamophobic hate on campus. 

As noted in Jonah Valdez’s recent article in The Intercept, “The premise behind Trump’s more recent order is rooted in Project Esther: a treatise by the authors of Project 2025. The document was billed as ‘a blueprint to countner antisemitism’ and offered strategies to target and silence critics of Israel, including deportation.

Valdez links to a fact sheet from the Trump administration about the investigation, which “mirrored language from Project Esther and laid bare the order’s intent to ‘cancel the student visas of all Hamas sympathizers on college campuses,’ vowing to deport ‘all the resident aliens who joined in the pro-jihadist protests.’”

In addition to the open Title IV case investigating anti-Palestinian and anti-Muslim hate speech, incidents of virulent and undisguised Islamophobia on campus continue, and they have not been adequately addressed by the PSU administration. In January of this year, students emerged from class to an anti-Muslim demonstration on the campus Park Blocks with signs featuring slogans such as, “ISLAM KILLS JEWS. PROTECT THE SURVIVORS.” We continue to be concerned for Muslim students, faculty and staff members, as well as all Arab and Palestinian members of the campus community who the administration has failed to protect.
 

Limited Access Space

Schools can designate specific areas as private and restrict anyone that does not have a valid warrant. Limited Access Spaces can be classrooms, offices, or other spaces.

Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration advises: “Under the Fourth Amendment, which protects individuals from unreasonable searches and seizures, individuals have a reasonable expectation of privacy in nonpublic spaces, meaning that ICE officers cannot enter without a judicial warrant signed by a judge or explicit consent from an authorized campus official. Nonpublic spaces include spaces where access to the public is limited, including spaces where access is restricted by university-issued ID cards, locked doors or monitored entryways, university residence halls, and other monitored-entry spaces. Additionally, some spaces may be left unlocked during work hours but are still not considered public due to their function, such as faculty and administrator offices, classrooms in session, locker rooms, and other operational facilities.”

If you see non-PSU law enforcement on campus, in the building, or on the floor:

1. Stay calm.

2. Shut your door, if appropriate.

3. DO NOT talk to non-PSU law enforcement. General Counsel is the point of contact for non-PSU law enforcement.

4. Contact PSU General Counsel: 503-725-2625

5. No University employee should release student information without first consulting with the Office of General Counsel, even if presented with a valid-looking subpoena or other court order.

6. Document the encounter including any information you have (names, unit, badge numbers, actions)

Source: https://www.pdx.edu/general-counsel/faqs-immigration-related-concerns

PSU Social Workers for Justice in Palestine, an autonomous group of social work students organized ‘Shoes for Sidra’ an art installation in Urban Plaza on Monday, February 10th.

‘Shoes for Sidra’ is “a community art installation dedicated to Sidra Hassouna, a 7-year-old Palestinian girl, who was killed in an Israeli airstrike that tore off both her legs and left her body hanging from a destroyed house. Sidra is but one of over 17,500 children killed in the ongoing genocide of the Palestinian people (IG@psu_swjp).”

PSU Social Workers for Justice in Palestine worked to bring 450 pairs of shoes to PSU for this installation. Many shoes had handmade flower poppies attached to them with the names of children martyred in Gaza.