Columbia is officially adopting the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism, the university’s interim president, Claire Shipman, said.
She added that while the university’s Office of Institutional Equity (OIE) has been working in a manner “consistent with applicable regulations and guidance from the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR),” the formal incorporation of the IHRA definition will “strengthen our response to and our community’s understanding of modern antisemitism.”
She noted that many other universities already adhere to the definition and use the examples given to help guide what may constitute evidence of discriminatory intent.
“There is no place for intimidation, hateful language, or targeting of Jews or Israelis at Columbia, and we have zero tolerance for this behavior,” she added.
Shipman announced that Columbia will be appointing Title VI and VII coordinators to review allegations. While Columbia has existing compulsory Title VI anti-discrimination training, Shipman said “deeper education on antisemitism is critical.”
She added that, following six months of conversations with the Jewish community, Columbia has understood the need for meaningful educational programs that engage not only students but also faculty and staff.
As such, Columbia is initiating programming and training partnerships with several national Jewish organizations, including Project Shema, the Anti-Defamation League, the Foundation to Combat Antisemitism, and the Kalaniyot Foundation. It is also exploring a cooperation with Yad Vashem.
In an unusually strong statement, Shipman stated that “Columbia has not and will not recognize or meet with the group that calls itself Columbia University Apartheid Divest (CUAD), its representatives, or any of its affiliated organizations.”
She added that organizations that promote violence or encourage disruptions “are not welcome on campuses and the University will not engage with them.”
CUAD came into the spotlight when one of its senior activists, Mahmoud Khalil, was arrested earlier this year. It has repeatedly celebrated October 7 and held a lecture earlier this year on learning the methods and lessons of the First Intifada.
Antisemitism at Columbia
In January, Columbia announced that it would be conducting an expedited investigation and deploying security to classes after a lecture on Israeli history was disrupted by anti-Israel activists distributing flyers with violent imagery.
On the first day of Columbia’s spring semester, masked activists entered the History of Modern Israel course taught by Israeli historian Avi Shilon, according to a statement from then-interim president Katrina Armstrong.
The keffiyeh-clad activists said they were protesting the “normalization of genocide,” in an Instagram video published by Shilon on Wednesday. As a protester read a speech to a cameraperson about the Israel-Hamas War, other activists distributed anti-Israel flyers.
One flyer, calling to “crush Zionism,” depicted a boot stepping on a broken Star of David, according to an X/Twitter account calling itself Columbia Jewish and Israeli Students. Another poster urged to “burn Zionism to the ground,” accompanied by a drawing of a masked man carrying a burning Israeli flag.
Other posters declared “This is for Hind [Rajab],” according to Columbia University Apartheid Divest coalition’s social media posts, invoking the name of a girl killed during the war who has become a rallying symbol for protesters.
$400 million grants, contracts to Columbia canceled by Trump admin.
In March 2025, US President Donald Trump’s administration canceled grants and contracts totaling $400 million to Columbia due to “inaction in the face of persistent harassment of Jewish students,” the Education Department announced.
“These cancellations represent the first round of action, and additional cancellations are expected to follow,” the Education Department said.
The university holds over $5 billion in federal grant funding.