Columbia University acted “with deliberate indifference” toward the ongoing harassment of its Jewish students, according to a government inquiry that concluded the Ivy League institution in New York violated federal civil rights law.
The announcement came as Columbia is locked in a battle over federal funding and scrutiny, part of a Trump administration campaign to pressure higher education institutions and seek sweeping changes on everything from their response to campus protests to admissions criteria and academic oversight.
The Trump administration previously canceled $400 million in federal grants and contracts to Columbia, citing inadequate response to complaints of antisemitism by Jewish students since the Oct. 7 assault on Israel by Hamas. Columbia has cut staff working on research affected by withdrawn funding grants
“The findings carefully document the hostile environment Jewish students at Columbia University have had to endure for over 19 months, disrupting their education, safety, and well-being,” said Anthony Archeval, the HHS acting director for civil rights. “We encourage Columbia University to work with us to come to an agreement that reflects meaningful changes that will truly protect Jewish students.”
In a statement late Thursday night, Columbia said it was “is deeply committed to combating antisemitism and all forms of harassment and discrimination on our campus. We take these issues seriously and will work with the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Education to address them.”
The administration’s report on Columbia was released as Trump administration officials escalated their clash with Harvard University, the nation’s richest school, by revoking its ability to enroll students from overseas. Though the administration has moved most aggressively against Harvard and Columbia, the increased scrutiny has spread to other elite universities including Princeton in New Jersey and Northwestern, just north of Chicago.
Columbia has been negotiating with the administration to address the funding pullback, including over issues related to student safety and policing powers, as well as changes sought by the government related to longstanding conservative complaints of left-leaning ideological bias on college campuses.
A person familiar with the negotiations between the university and the government said a mutual resolution was being pursued and the release of the findings could be considered part of that process.
University Acting President Claire Shipman has said Columbia would reject any deal in which the government dictates what it teaches, researches or who it hires.
The announcement came as Columbia is locked in a battle over federal funding and scrutiny, part of a Trump administration campaign to pressure higher education institutions and seek sweeping changes on everything from their response to campus protests to admissions criteria and academic oversight.
The Trump administration previously canceled $400 million in federal grants and contracts to Columbia, citing inadequate response to complaints of antisemitism by Jewish students since the Oct. 7 assault on Israel by Hamas. Columbia has cut staff working on research affected by withdrawn funding grants
“The findings carefully document the hostile environment Jewish students at Columbia University have had to endure for over 19 months, disrupting their education, safety, and well-being,” said Anthony Archeval, the HHS acting director for civil rights. “We encourage Columbia University to work with us to come to an agreement that reflects meaningful changes that will truly protect Jewish students.”
In a statement late Thursday night, Columbia said it was “is deeply committed to combating antisemitism and all forms of harassment and discrimination on our campus. We take these issues seriously and will work with the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Education to address them.”
The administration’s report on Columbia was released as Trump administration officials escalated their clash with Harvard University, the nation’s richest school, by revoking its ability to enroll students from overseas. Though the administration has moved most aggressively against Harvard and Columbia, the increased scrutiny has spread to other elite universities including Princeton in New Jersey and Northwestern, just north of Chicago.
Columbia has been negotiating with the administration to address the funding pullback, including over issues related to student safety and policing powers, as well as changes sought by the government related to longstanding conservative complaints of left-leaning ideological bias on college campuses.
A person familiar with the negotiations between the university and the government said a mutual resolution was being pursued and the release of the findings could be considered part of that process.
University Acting President Claire Shipman has said Columbia would reject any deal in which the government dictates what it teaches, researches or who it hires.
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