PORTLAND, Ore. — The U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights (DOE) has launched a federal investigation into Portland State University (PSU) over racist flyers appearing on campus.
Anti-Palestinian flyers were posted in Cramer Hall, starting in July, and the DOE started its investigation a month later. Both the DOE and PSU confirmed that investigation with KGW Tuesday morning.
The investigation is regarding Title VI Shared Ancestry, which prohibits discrimination based on race, color or national origin against students.
"One of the flyers implied that supporters of Palestine support rape, murder and terrorism," while "another [flyer] references "terror-supporting Muslim Nazis and their supporters at PSU," reported the Oregonian, who first published on the flyers.
The group Portland State University Faculty and Staff for Justice in Palestine sent KGW a statement that said at least five different reports about the flyers were made to PSU administration, and nothing was done.
"The contents of the fliers were derogatory and vile," President Ann Cudd said in a post on PSU's website. "They were removed as soon as they were discovered and reported to the Office of Equity and Compliance."
Cudd stated that the person responsible had been identified and that the university "took appropriate action to address the misconduct."
"I'm generally not surprised because those posters were there for — I don't remember specifically — but they were there for a decent amount of time," said PSU student Arjun, "so, I am not necessarily surprised that they launched an investigation."
Cudd also shared the university has unveiled a new free speech website that outlines how they can protect free speech while continuing to serve students from all backgrounds.