CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (CBS19 News) -- The U.S. Department of Education is investigating threats against Jewish students at the University of Virginia. 

A University of Virginia student says these antisemitic acts started a week into school just weeks before Hamas attacked Israel. 

“I used to walk around with a yarmulke. I can’t do that now,” 

Matan Goldstein is a first-year student at UVA. The 18-year-old says his experience hasn’t been like other students. Goldstein says he’s a victim of hate speech and physical assault on Grounds. He says it’s at the hands of those who hate him for his belief system.

“My parents are Israeli and so I am a first-generation American,” Goldstein said.

When he opened his acceptance letter to UVA, this wasn’t what he thought college would be.

“I came here to study. I am 18 years old. But at the same time when my friends are being told that Hitler was right and when I am being pushed aside and slapped and then I’m later told that I’m a filthy Jew. What am I supposed to do?” he asks.

UVA is one of many college campuses across the nation under investigation by the Department of Education for alleged antisemitism, anti-Muslim, anti-Arab, and other forms of discrimination in the wake of the Israel-Hamas war. 

Goldstein says instead of studying, he’s found himself fighting to get an education. 

“My goal was not to be a politician, it was not to carry the cross for fighting against antisemitism,” said Goldstein. 

He says the university isn’t doing enough to help him protect himself. 

“I  was told by the administration about how I haven’t been reporting anything with the police but that’s not true. I have. After I was called a ‘filthy Jew’ on November 17th, I called the police and I filed a police report,” he said.