Columbia has the Kraft Center for Jewish Life, which serves as the campus Hillel, as well as a Chabad, Jewish Greek life organizations, and the Institute for Israel and Jewish Studies.

Litigation & Investigations

In November 2023, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights opened a Title VI investigation following allegations of antisemitism on Columbia’s campus.

In February 2024, Jewish students filed a lawsuit against Columbia and Barnard alleging “severe and pervasive” antisemitism on campus.

In January 2025, the Department of Education again launched an investigation into alleged antisemitic discrimination at Columbia University. The case was opened using the department’s power to launch its own investigations, rather than the investigation stemming from external complaints.

In February 2025, the Department of Education launched an investigation into alleged antisemitic discrimination at Columbia University. These matters were opened using the Department's power to launch investigations.

What’s Happening on Campus?

Following October 7 2023, Columbia's Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) chapter led protests on campus that have supported violence against Israel, including one where the group expressed it was “in full solidarity” with Hamas’ “resistance.” Over 100 Columbia faculty members subsequently signed on to a letter supporting student groups like SJP and defending Hamas' attack as “just one salvo in an ongoing war between an occupying state and the people it occupies, or as an occupied people exercising a right to resist.”

Both SJP and Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP) led rallies, die-ins, and walkouts during the fall 2023 semester. While the University suspended both SJP and JVP in November 2023, students have continued to organize, call for University divestment from Israel and promote teach-ins, walk-outs, and protests.

During the fall of 2023, incidents of swastika vandalism, physical assaults, and the posting of stickers reading “Zionist Donors and Trustees Hands Off Our University,” and “Zionism is Terrorism” were reported on campus. Visibly Jewish students have reported being spat on and subjected to antisemitic rhetoric including “F*** the Jews.” In October 2023, an Israeli student was allegedly beaten on his hand with a stick outside of the University library after confronting a perpetrator for ripping down flyers of Israeli hostages held by Hamas.

The University has also received calls to remove Professor Joseph Massad after he described Hamas’ terrorist attack on Israel as a “resistance offensive” to “Israeli settler-colonialism and racism toward the Palestinians.”

In January 2024, the Columbia University Law School Student Senate denied official recognition to the Law Students Against Antisemitism student group after some student senators reportedly objected to the group’s use of the IHRA antisemitism definition. The student group was finally granted recognition in February 2024.

In mid-April 2024, anti-Israel protestors at Columbia University established an encampment that lasted almost three weeks and set the trend for encampments nationwide. A series of incidents were recorded at the encampment and at the campus’ main entrance gates, including a protestor holding a sign saying “Al-Qasam’s [sic] next target” in front of a group of Jewish students holding Israeli flags and a visibly Jewish student being shoved and screamed at by protestors, “you’ve got blood on your hands!” when he attempted to recover an Israeli flag. Protestors were also recorded chanting “Al-Qassam you make us proud! Take another soldier out!” and “Hamas we love you. We support your rockets too!” At the end of April, protestors took over the Hamilton Hall building on campus, breaking windows and ignoring the deadline to dismantle the encampment.

In August 2024, the residential building of a Columbia University administrator was vandalized with red paint that included inverted red triangles, a symbol that first appeared in Hamas propaganda videos. In September 2024, a mezuzah was taken from the dorm room door of a Jewish student.

In December 2024, individuals affiliated with the Columbia University SJP distributed newsletters titled "Columbia Intifada," which included articles including one titled: "Zionist Peace Means Palestinian Blood."

In January 2025, anti-Israel protestors disrupted a History of Modern Israel class. That same month, protesters “cemented” the sewage system at the International Affairs Building and sprayed Henry R. Kravis Hall at the Business School with red paint. In February 2025, anti-Israel protestors occupied a building on the neighboring campus of Barnard College. While the protest occurred on Barnard's campus, Columbia students were also reportedly involved. At the time of this release, the situation is still evolving and this entry may be updated.

University Policies and Responsive Action

Columbia suspended SJP and JVP for “repeatedly violat[ing] university policies related to holding campus events” and for holding a rally “that proceeded despite warnings and included threatening rhetoric and intimidation.” In April 2024, Columbia also suspended four students after an event that featured speakers who “support terrorism and promote violence” was organized in violation of campus policies.

In December 2023, Columbia announced the creation of a Task Force on Antisemitism, which has issued multiple reports. The Task Force’s recommendations on time, place and manner restrictions have already been adopted by the University. The University updated its bias incident reporting and response capacity to handle the increase in discrimination and harassment complaints, including complaints pertaining to antisemitism. Columbia has hosted events, including a webinar entitled “Unpacking Antisemitism on Campus,” and is developing non-discrimination training for students and employees which will include a section covering antisemitism.

From mid-April to the beginning of May 2024, law enforcement called in by Columbia’s administration arrested over 100 protestors, eventually dismantling the encampment. The University clarified that it would “not divest from Israel,” and that student protestors risked facing suspension and expulsion for violations of the University’s Code of Conduct.

In September 2024, the task force released its second report, leveraging listening sessions with almost 500 students to underscore the pervasiveness of antisemitism on campus and to provide data-driven recommendations, including improving reporting mechanisms. In response, President Armstrong stated: “the painful and distressing incidents of antisemitism recounted in this report are completely unacceptable. They are antithetical to our values.”

President Armstrong has additionally launched a new Campus Climate Collaborative and tasked the University’s Public Safety leadership with strengthening its capacity to prevent and respond to disruptive conduct. Recent incidents on campus have also thus far been met with swift condemnations, enforcements of campus policies and investigations.

In advance of the 2024-25 academic year, the University established a new Office of Institutional Equity to centralize the reporting and investigation of incidents. Mandatory Title VI training is now also required for all faculty, employees, contractors and new hires. New training for students includes training scenarios to build awareness of the ways that antisemitism can manifest.

In September 2024, the University introduced new policies prohibiting the use of terms like "Zionist" when employed to target Jews or Israelis.

Columbia has the Kraft Center for Jewish Life, which serves as the campus Hillel, as well as a Chabad, Jewish Greek life organizations, and the Institute for Israel and Jewish Studies.

Litigation & Investigations

In November 2023, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights opened a Title VI investigation following allegations of antisemitism on Columbia’s campus.

In February 2024, Jewish students filed a lawsuit against Columbia and Barnard alleging “severe and pervasive” antisemitism on campus.

In January 2025, the Department of Education again launched an investigation into alleged antisemitic discrimination at Columbia University. The case was opened using the department’s power to launch its own investigations, rather than the investigation stemming from external complaints.

In February 2025, the Department of Education launched an investigation into alleged antisemitic discrimination at Columbia University. These matters were opened using the Department's power to launch investigations.

What’s Happening on Campus?

Following October 7 2023, Columbia's Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) chapter led protests on campus that have supported violence against Israel, including one where the group expressed it was “in full solidarity” with Hamas’ “resistance.” Over 100 Columbia faculty members subsequently signed on to a letter supporting student groups like SJP and defending Hamas' attack as “just one salvo in an ongoing war between an occupying state and the people it occupies, or as an occupied people exercising a right to resist.”

Both SJP and Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP) led rallies, die-ins, and walkouts during the fall 2023 semester. While the University suspended both SJP and JVP in November 2023, students have continued to organize, call for University divestment from Israel and promote teach-ins, walk-outs, and protests.

During the fall of 2023, incidents of swastika vandalism, physical assaults, and the posting of stickers reading “Zionist Donors and Trustees Hands Off Our University,” and “Zionism is Terrorism” were reported on campus. Visibly Jewish students have reported being spat on and subjected to antisemitic rhetoric including “F*** the Jews.” In October 2023, an Israeli student was allegedly beaten on his hand with a stick outside of the University library after confronting a perpetrator for ripping down flyers of Israeli hostages held by Hamas.

The University has also received calls to remove Professor Joseph Massad after he described Hamas’ terrorist attack on Israel as a “resistance offensive” to “Israeli settler-colonialism and racism toward the Palestinians.”

In January 2024, the Columbia University Law School Student Senate denied official recognition to the Law Students Against Antisemitism student group after some student senators reportedly objected to the group’s use of the IHRA antisemitism definition. The student group was finally granted recognition in February 2024.

In mid-April 2024, anti-Israel protestors at Columbia University established an encampment that lasted almost three weeks and set the trend for encampments nationwide. A series of incidents were recorded at the encampment and at the campus’ main entrance gates, including a protestor holding a sign saying “Al-Qasam’s [sic] next target” in front of a group of Jewish students holding Israeli flags and a visibly Jewish student being shoved and screamed at by protestors, “you’ve got blood on your hands!” when he attempted to recover an Israeli flag. Protestors were also recorded chanting “Al-Qassam you make us proud! Take another soldier out!” and “Hamas we love you. We support your rockets too!” At the end of April, protestors took over the Hamilton Hall building on campus, breaking windows and ignoring the deadline to dismantle the encampment.

In August 2024, the residential building of a Columbia University administrator was vandalized with red paint that included inverted red triangles, a symbol that first appeared in Hamas propaganda videos. In September 2024, a mezuzah was taken from the dorm room door of a Jewish student.

In December 2024, individuals affiliated with the Columbia University SJP distributed newsletters titled "Columbia Intifada," which included articles including one titled: "Zionist Peace Means Palestinian Blood."

In January 2025, anti-Israel protestors disrupted a History of Modern Israel class. That same month, protesters “cemented” the sewage system at the International Affairs Building and sprayed Henry R. Kravis Hall at the Business School with red paint. In February 2025, anti-Israel protestors occupied a building on the neighboring campus of Barnard College. While the protest occurred on Barnard's campus, Columbia students were also reportedly involved. At the time of this release, the situation is still evolving and this entry may be updated.

University Policies and Responsive Action

Columbia suspended SJP and JVP for “repeatedly violat[ing] university policies related to holding campus events” and for holding a rally “that proceeded despite warnings and included threatening rhetoric and intimidation.” In April 2024, Columbia also suspended four students after an event that featured speakers who “support terrorism and promote violence” was organized in violation of campus policies.

In December 2023, Columbia announced the creation of a Task Force on Antisemitism, which has issued multiple reports. The Task Force’s recommendations on time, place and manner restrictions have already been adopted by the University. The University updated its bias incident reporting and response capacity to handle the increase in discrimination and harassment complaints, including complaints pertaining to antisemitism. Columbia has hosted events, including a webinar entitled “Unpacking Antisemitism on Campus,” and is developing non-discrimination training for students and employees which will include a section covering antisemitism.

From mid-April to the beginning of May 2024, law enforcement called in by Columbia’s administration arrested over 100 protestors, eventually dismantling the encampment. The University clarified that it would “not divest from Israel,” and that student protestors risked facing suspension and expulsion for violations of the University’s Code of Conduct.

In September 2024, the task force released its second report, leveraging listening sessions with almost 500 students to underscore the pervasiveness of antisemitism on campus and to provide data-driven recommendations, including improving reporting mechanisms. In response, President Armstrong stated: “the painful and distressing incidents of antisemitism recounted in this report are completely unacceptable. They are antithetical to our values.”

President Armstrong has additionally launched a new Campus Climate Collaborative and tasked the University’s Public Safety leadership with strengthening its capacity to prevent and respond to disruptive conduct. Recent incidents on campus have also thus far been met with swift condemnations, enforcements of campus policies and investigations.

In advance of the 2024-25 academic year, the University established a new Office of Institutional Equity to centralize the reporting and investigation of incidents. Mandatory Title VI training is now also required for all faculty, employees, contractors and new hires. New training for students includes training scenarios to build awareness of the ways that antisemitism can manifest.

In September 2024, the University introduced new policies prohibiting the use of terms like "Zionist" when employed to target Jews or Israelis.