UNC Under Investigation by DOE for Anti-Semitism

On January 2, we posted a story about the shenanigans of the Students for Justice in Palestine chapter at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. 

In addition, UNC has also recently been placed under investigation by the Department of Education, Office of Civil Rights for allegations of anti-Semitism (Hat tip JTA). The allegations center around a statement made by a UNC professor, E. Chebrolu, during class on October 17, 2023, and statements made by a guest speaker (Rania Masri) on campus on November 28, 2023, describing October 7 (the day of Hamas' attack on Israel) as "a beautiful day."

Here is how the campus newspaper, The Daily Tarheel is reporting the news.

I am fully aware of the free speech aspects of this controversy, and I am not arguing for anybody being arrested here. But as for a speaker describing October 7 as "a beautiful day", I find that to be an outrageous statement that should be condemned by decent-thinking people. If the horrific acts committed by Hamas on October 7 are not enough to turn your stomach, keep in mind that some of the murder victims and some of the hostages still held today by the bloodthirsty killers of Hamas are American citizens. (The UNC chancellor has condemned Masri's statement.)

Question: Was 9-11 also a "beautiful day" for that speaker?

Question: How would we receive someone, say a Japanese citizen residing in the US or a Japanese-American describing December 7, 1941 as "a beautiful day"? Keep in mind that those living on the West Coast were rounded up and placed in internment camps until the end of the war, losing their homes and businesses which, in many cases, were never returned. And guess what. As far as I am aware, not one single Japanese/Japanese-American uttered the words that December 7 was "a beautiful day". The internment was a tragic mistake, and in no way am I suggesting that it should happen to the people who made the above statements post-October 7.

But we have every right to be disgusted. As to allegations of campus anti-Semitism at Chapel Hill, these must be fully investigated. There is apparently a lot going on at UNC. Are these incidents part of an overall pattern of anti-Jewish harassment on campus? That is for DOE to evaluate and determine.