Columbia University’s Antisemitism Crisis

Antisemitism at Columbia University has escalated to alarming levels, reflecting a troubling historical cycle where Jewish communities face intensified hate during periods of political and social upheaval. Today, Jewish students and faculty at Columbia are enduring harassment, exclusion, and even physical intimidation under the guise of political activism.

The explosion of anti-Israel activism has only fueled this climate. What may have begun as political protest has evolved into a movement that singles out Jewish students for ostracization. Reports of students being removed from organizations for their Jewish identity demonstrate how easily hate can be repackaged as activism. The signs of this growing hostility are unmistakable. Protesters have disrupted classes, targeted Jewish students, and shouted incendiary slogans—crossing the line from political expression into outright intimidation. Columbia’s administration has failed to respond with the necessary urgency, allowing a culture of unchecked aggression to take root. By neglecting to enforce its own policies, the university has created an environment where Jewish students face hostility with little institutional support.

Columbia’s history makes this regression even more troubling. In the early 20th century, the university was one of the first in the US to impose Jewish quotas to limit enrollment, reflecting antisemitism that became pervasive across institutions in the long lead-up to the Holocaust.

What started as political activism has spiraled into outright bigotry. Jewish students have been kicked out of extracurricular activities, told they are not welcome in student groups, and even assaulted for expressing their identity. Protesters stormed Hamilton Hall, vandalized campus buildings, and clashed violently with police, forcing the university to shut down its main commencement ceremony. Jewish students inside reported being surrounded by demonstrators chanting, “Zionists off our campus,” while another student recalled seeing signs that read, “The enemy will not see tomorrow.” Columbia University Apartheid Divest, the leading anti-Israel group on campus, openly encouraged students to “disrupt Zionist classes” regardless of content and, in one instance, stormed an Israeli-born professor’s seminar, hurling flyers showing a boot crushing a Star of David onto students’ desks.

Jewish students have faced exclusion in all areas of campus life, from student government to social clubs. Reports indicate that students have been purged from leadership roles simply for supporting Israel, while others have been blacklisted from activities if they refuse to denounce their beliefs. What should be a space for academic discourse has instead turned into a battleground where identity determines acceptability. Even Columbia administrators, instead of addressing students’ concerns, exchanged messages mocking Jewish students, dismissing their fears as exaggerated and joking about Jewish influence. During a meeting on antisemitism, one university leader texted another, accusing Jewish leaders of exaggerating concerns for fundraising purposes. These remarks, leaked from private exchanges, exposed bias at the highest levels of university leadership. The campus environment has deteriorated to the point where many Jewish students feel the need to hide their identity, a tragic repetition of history that should alarm every American who values civil rights and academic freedom.

Thankfully, decisive action is being taken at the national level. President Trump and Education Secretary McMahon made it absolutely clear that antisemitism in higher education will not be tolerated, holding Columbia accountable for failing to protect its students. Now, the United States Congress must follow suit and pass the Antisemitism Awareness Act, a bipartisan effort to ensure universities cannot turn a blind eye to discrimination. This bill mandates the use of the International Holocaust Remembrance Definition of Antisemitism, which explicitly outlines how modern antisemitism often hides behind anti-Zionist rhetoric and Holocaust denial. With over 10,000 recorded incidents of antisemitism since Hamas’s attack on Israel, the need for federal action is undeniable.

The numbers tell a chilling story. 83% of Jewish college students have experienced or witnessed antisemitism firsthand, and nearly half feel they must hide their Jewish identity to stay safe. Columbia’s failures are not unique—this is a national crisis.

If Columbia wants to reclaim its reputation as a place of integrity and academic freedom, it must act now—boldly and without hesitation. This means enforcing its own policies, shutting down extremist rhetoric, and making it clear that hatred has no place on campus. Jewish students should not have to wonder if their university will stand up for them. The Antisemitism Awareness Act is a critical tool in this fight, and Congress must pass it without delay. History has shown us what happens when antisemitism is allowed to spread unchecked. Columbia has a choice: confront antisemitism head-on and prove itself as a leader in protecting its students, or stand by as its legacy is stained by complicity in hate.