Congressional Scrutiny on Columbia U’s Handling of Anti-Semitism Intensifies Amid Growing Campus Hostility

Edited by: Fern Sidman

The House Education and Workforce Committee, led by Chairman Rep. Tim Walberg (R-Mich.), has formally demanded disciplinary records from Columbia University following what it describes as “numerous anti-Semitic incidents” on campus since the fall 2024 semester. According to a recently published report on The Jewish News Syndicate web site, this request comes amid growing concerns that the university has failed to fulfill its repeated commitments to address anti-Semitism, despite assurances made to Jewish students, faculty members, and congressional representatives.

Columbia University, one of the most prestigious Ivy League institutions, has increasingly come under fire for failing to curb a hostile environment for Jewish students. Over the past 16 months, the university has witnessed an alarming rise in anti-Semitic incidents, many of them tied to anti-Israel demonstrations that have turned aggressive. While Columbia’s administration has acknowledged the presence of anti-Semitism, JNS reported that university leaders have yet to take decisive action, allowing the situation to deteriorate.

Columbia’s Alleged Failure to Address Campus Anti-Semitism

Columbia University leaders have made public and private assurances over the past year that they would take substantive steps to combat the alarming escalation of virulent anti-Semitism. However, JNS reported that in his letter to Columbia’s administration, Rep. Walberg argued that the university has failed to follow through on these commitments, leaving Jewish students exposed to an increasingly hostile campus atmosphere.

“For more than a year, leaders have made public and private promises to Jewish students, faculty, and members of Congress that the university would take the steps necessary to combat the rampant anti-Semitism on Columbia’s campus,” Walberg’s letter states, according to JNS.

“Yet,” it continues, “Columbia has failed to uphold its commitments, both because the disciplinary process has failed and because the campus administration has refused to enforce its pre-existing rules. Columbia’s continued failure to address the pervasive anti-Semitism that persists on campus is untenable, particularly given that the university receives billions in federal funding.”

According to the information provided in the JNS report, this letter shines a proverbial spotlight on the seriousness of the situation by reminding Columbia University that its inaction could have significant financial and regulatory consequences, particularly given the substantial federal funding it receives.

A Pattern of Anti-Semitic Incidents and Campus Disruptions

Columbia’s failure to take action is particularly alarming given the growing number of anti-Semitic and anti-Israel demonstrations on its campus over the past 16 months. One of the most egregious incidents occurred on Nov. 21, 2024, when a group of students blocked Jewish students from entering the Columbia Hillel building, a clear attempt at intimidation that sparked outrage among the Jewish community.

Another significant incident, detailed by JNS, took place on Jan. 21, 2025, when a group of anti-Israel demonstrators stormed a modern Israeli history class, shouting anti-Israel and anti-Semitic slogans and distributing inflammatory fliers. Students reported feeling threatened and unsafe, with some choosing to leave the class rather than endure the hostility.

Beyond these specific events, the JNS report highlighted that Columbia has been the site of relentless anti-Israel demonstrations for well over a year. Since the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel, campus protests have dramatically escalated. In the weeks and months following the attack, student groups, including Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) and Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP), have organized regular demonstrations that frequently involved aggressive rhetoric, calls for intifada, and harassment of Jewish students.

JNS has documented how these demonstrations often cross the line from political protest into outright anti-Semitic rhetoric and intimidation. Some of the most disturbing instances include:

Repeated calls for the destruction of Israel and slogans such as “From the River to the Sea, Palestine Will Be Free”, which Jewish students and organizations have condemned as a call for the elimination of the Jewish state.

A “die-in” protest outside Columbia’s Hillel building, where Jewish students were met with jeers and chants equating Zionism with genocide.

Intimidation tactics, such as placing fake eviction notices on Jewish students’ dorm rooms, falsely claiming they were being expelled from their housing, mimicking what protesters claim is Israel’s treatment of Palestinians.

Faculty involvement in radical activism, with some professors openly supporting the most extreme protest rhetoric, further alienating Jewish students in academic settings.

The JNS report noted that these events have contributed to a climate of fear among Columbia’s Jewish student body. Reports indicate that many Jewish students have taken to hiding their Star of David necklaces, avoiding certain campus areas, or even considering transferring to other universities where they feel safer.

Congressional Deadline for Columbia’s Response

Rep. Walberg and the House Education and Workforce Committee have given Columbia’s interim president Katrina Armstrong and the two co-chairs of the university’s board of trustees a strict deadline of Feb. 27 at noon Eastern Standard Time to provide detailed disciplinary records related to these incidents, as per the information contained in the JNS report. The request seeks to determine whether Columbia has taken any meaningful action against those responsible for fostering an anti-Semitic campus climate.

If Columbia’s response is deemed insufficient, Congress could escalate the issue further, potentially through hearings, additional investigations, or even efforts to reassess the university’s federal funding status, as was noted in the JNS report.

A Troubled History of Leadership Changes Amid Anti-Semitism Investigations

JNS also highlighted that Columbia has already seen high-profile leadership changes as a result of these ongoing issues. Former university president Minouche Shafik resigned in 2023 amid rising concerns about Columbia’s handling of anti-Semitism and the subsequent federal investigations into the university’s climate.

Her departure followed months of pressure from both internal and external groups demanding that Columbia take a stronger stance against anti-Semitism. However, as JNS reported, many believe that Columbia’s leadership remains either unwilling or incapable of enforcing discipline against student groups and faculty members who engage in anti-Semitic rhetoric and harassment.

The Broader Context: A Growing National Problem

JNS places the situation at Columbia within the broader trend of increasing anti-Semitism on college campuses across the United States. Universities such as Harvard, Stanford, and the University of Pennsylvania have also faced scrutiny for allowing anti-Israel activism to morph into outright hostility toward Jewish students.

As JNS reported, Columbia has become a flashpoint in the national debate over the boundaries between free speech and hate speech. While university officials argue that they are committed to free expression, critics—including members of Congress—argue that universities have a duty to protect Jewish students from targeted harassment, just as they would for any other minority group.

A Critical Moment for Columbia and Campus Anti-Semitism Accountability

Columbia’s Jewish students, who have endured over a year of relentless harassment and intimidation, are watching closely. As JNS reported, the outcome of this inquiry may set a precedent for how universities nationwide handle anti-Semitism, potentially influencing policy decisions at both the institutional and federal levels.

With the Feb. 27 deadline approaching, Columbia’s leadership faces a defining test: Will they take real action to combat anti-Semitism, or will they continue to ignore the growing hostility that has made Jewish students feel unwelcome on campus?