Barnard College is serviced by the Columbia/Barnard Hillel, Chabad and Jewish Greek life organizations. The College has a close relationship with the Jewish Theological Seminary.

Litigation & Investigations

In February 2024, a lawsuit was filed by several individual Columbia and Barnard Jewish students, alleging that “Jewish and Israeli students have been physically assaulted, spat at, threatened and subjected to relentless intimidation and vilification.”

What’s Happening on Campus?

In late October 2023, 650 members of the Barnard faculty signed a letter taking issue with the College president’s statement that anti-Zionist speech was hateful and discriminatory. The faculty letter stated that the College’s “conflation” of anti-Zionism with antisemitism amounts to an act of “suppression of political perspectives.”

In March 2024, Barnard’s Student Government Association approved a referendum to be voted on by the full student body calling for the College to divest from companies that profit from or engage in Israeli apartheid, and end the Dual Degree Program between Columbia and Tel Aviv University. In April 2024, the student body voted in favor of the proposed divestment referendum.

In the wake of new campus protest policies and dorm door decoration policies, students have reportedly vandalized the inside of the library bathroom with messages like, “RESISTANCE BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY” and “FREE PALESTINE.”

In September 2024, swastikas were spray-painted on a dumpster on campus. In December 2024, fliers were posted on campus that featured images of assault weapons and read: "Revolution Until Victory" and "Fatah, Palestine Liberation Movement." That same month, an inverted red triangle was drawn over a fake "Wanted" poster depicting a Columbia University trustee at Barnard College. The inverted red triangle is a symbol that first appeared in Hamas propaganda videos.

On February 26 2025, sixty masked demonstrators stormed and occupied a campus building, injuring a school employee who required hospital treatment. The sit-in, which lasted for hours, was organized in response to the expulsion of two Barnard students who took part in disrupting a "History of Modern Israel" class at Columbia in January 2025. Violent protests continued on February 27, with the NYPD making several arrests.

University Policies and Responsive Action

Barnard has launched a Task Force on Antisemitism, jointly with Columbia University and Teachers College. The College created a series of learning tools and programs to address the rise of antisemitism that involve top College leadership in conversation with students.

In the wake of October 7, the College strengthened its security protocols, revised its policy on demonstrations and dorm decorations, and reiterated the College Code of Conduct and commitment to enforce it in the event of violations. The Columbia/Barnard Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) Chapter was also suspended in November 2023.

The administration has been active in consulting relevant stakeholders to address antisemitism and anti-Zionism on campus.

Due to conduct violations during the 2023-24 academic year, five students have been suspended for part or all of the 2024-25 academic year, and other students have been put on disciplinary probation. In advance of the 2024-25 academic year, campus-wide emails were sent as a reminder of Barnard’s Student Code of Conduct, to reiterate that violations of the code are not acceptable and to share a revised Policy on Safe Campus Demonstrations. Barnard has also formed the Public Order and Protests (POP) team and the Activist Student Support Engagement Team (ASSET) to further ensure that students understand and abide by Barnard’s rules.

The Barnard College Expectations for Community Conduct policy now also states that “substituting the word ‘Zionist’ as a proxy for ‘Jewish’ or ‘Israeli,’ for example, may constitute prohibited discrimination or harassment against those of Jewish or Israeli origin.” Additionally, all students, faculty, and staff at Barnard are required to complete mandatory Title VI non-discrimination trainings that address antisemitism. In addition to this Title VI training, all new first-year, transfer, and visiting students were required to participate in a training on how to recognize and respond to antisemitism and Islamophobia.

Barnard has also engaged in safety training since the terrorist attacks on October 7, 2023, including a June 2024 Barnard Community Safety staff training on effective responses to antisemitism and Islamophobia on campus. In September 2024, the Center for Engaged Pedagogy hosted a workshop for faculty entitled “Pedagogical Supports in Times of Crisis: Manifestations of and Responses to Antisemitism and Islamophobia in the Classroom.”

Following the February 2025 building takeover, Barnard officials said that "no promises of amnesty were made, and no concessions were negotiated.” However, the administration offered to meet with the protestors if they unmasked themselves. At the time of this release, the situation is still evolving and this entry may be updated.

Commendations

On October 30, 2024, ADL issued a commendation to Barnard College for the actions and policies implemented by the administration to combat antisemitism on campus in advance of the 2024 fall semester.

Barnard College is serviced by the Columbia/Barnard Hillel, Chabad and Jewish Greek life organizations. The College has a close relationship with the Jewish Theological Seminary.

Litigation & Investigations

In February 2024, a lawsuit was filed by several individual Columbia and Barnard Jewish students, alleging that “Jewish and Israeli students have been physically assaulted, spat at, threatened and subjected to relentless intimidation and vilification.”

What’s Happening on Campus?

In late October 2023, 650 members of the Barnard faculty signed a letter taking issue with the College president’s statement that anti-Zionist speech was hateful and discriminatory. The faculty letter stated that the College’s “conflation” of anti-Zionism with antisemitism amounts to an act of “suppression of political perspectives.”

In March 2024, Barnard’s Student Government Association approved a referendum to be voted on by the full student body calling for the College to divest from companies that profit from or engage in Israeli apartheid, and end the Dual Degree Program between Columbia and Tel Aviv University. In April 2024, the student body voted in favor of the proposed divestment referendum.

In the wake of new campus protest policies and dorm door decoration policies, students have reportedly vandalized the inside of the library bathroom with messages like, “RESISTANCE BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY” and “FREE PALESTINE.”

In September 2024, swastikas were spray-painted on a dumpster on campus. In December 2024, fliers were posted on campus that featured images of assault weapons and read: "Revolution Until Victory" and "Fatah, Palestine Liberation Movement." That same month, an inverted red triangle was drawn over a fake "Wanted" poster depicting a Columbia University trustee at Barnard College. The inverted red triangle is a symbol that first appeared in Hamas propaganda videos.

On February 26 2025, sixty masked demonstrators stormed and occupied a campus building, injuring a school employee who required hospital treatment. The sit-in, which lasted for hours, was organized in response to the expulsion of two Barnard students who took part in disrupting a "History of Modern Israel" class at Columbia in January 2025. Violent protests continued on February 27, with the NYPD making several arrests.

University Policies and Responsive Action

Barnard has launched a Task Force on Antisemitism, jointly with Columbia University and Teachers College. The College created a series of learning tools and programs to address the rise of antisemitism that involve top College leadership in conversation with students.

In the wake of October 7, the College strengthened its security protocols, revised its policy on demonstrations and dorm decorations, and reiterated the College Code of Conduct and commitment to enforce it in the event of violations. The Columbia/Barnard Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) Chapter was also suspended in November 2023.

The administration has been active in consulting relevant stakeholders to address antisemitism and anti-Zionism on campus.

Due to conduct violations during the 2023-24 academic year, five students have been suspended for part or all of the 2024-25 academic year, and other students have been put on disciplinary probation. In advance of the 2024-25 academic year, campus-wide emails were sent as a reminder of Barnard’s Student Code of Conduct, to reiterate that violations of the code are not acceptable and to share a revised Policy on Safe Campus Demonstrations. Barnard has also formed the Public Order and Protests (POP) team and the Activist Student Support Engagement Team (ASSET) to further ensure that students understand and abide by Barnard’s rules.

The Barnard College Expectations for Community Conduct policy now also states that “substituting the word ‘Zionist’ as a proxy for ‘Jewish’ or ‘Israeli,’ for example, may constitute prohibited discrimination or harassment against those of Jewish or Israeli origin.” Additionally, all students, faculty, and staff at Barnard are required to complete mandatory Title VI non-discrimination trainings that address antisemitism. In addition to this Title VI training, all new first-year, transfer, and visiting students were required to participate in a training on how to recognize and respond to antisemitism and Islamophobia.

Barnard has also engaged in safety training since the terrorist attacks on October 7, 2023, including a June 2024 Barnard Community Safety staff training on effective responses to antisemitism and Islamophobia on campus. In September 2024, the Center for Engaged Pedagogy hosted a workshop for faculty entitled “Pedagogical Supports in Times of Crisis: Manifestations of and Responses to Antisemitism and Islamophobia in the Classroom.”

Following the February 2025 building takeover, Barnard officials said that "no promises of amnesty were made, and no concessions were negotiated.” However, the administration offered to meet with the protestors if they unmasked themselves. At the time of this release, the situation is still evolving and this entry may be updated.

Commendations

On October 30, 2024, ADL issued a commendation to Barnard College for the actions and policies implemented by the administration to combat antisemitism on campus in advance of the 2024 fall semester.