The federal government had earlier canceled $400 million in federal funding to the university.
Columbia University will put in place several measures to fight anti-Semitism on its campuses, the institution’s acting president, Claire Shipman, said in a July 15 letter to the university’s community.
“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 wrote.
“Beginning this 2025–26 academic year, Columbia will make clear our ‘Zero Tolerance for Antisemitism and Hate’ in regular community messages.
“As part of this initiative, 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.”
Following the Hamas terror attack against Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, and Israel’s response in Gaza, radical protests were undertaken at Columbia; one campus encampment lasted more than 100 days before being broken up by the police. Columbia University Apartheid Divest (CUAD), a school coalition that pushes for Columbia to divest itself of financial interests in Israel, was involved in organizing the protests.
In March, the Trump administration said it was canceling about $400 million in federal funds to Columbia, accusing the university of failing to take action against harassment faced by Jewish students.
“Universities must comply with all federal anti-discrimination laws if they are going to receive federal funding,” Education Secretary Linda McMahon said at that time. “For too long, Columbia has abandoned that obligation to Jewish students studying on its campus.”
In June, a federal judge upheld the Trump administration’s decision to suspend $400 million in funding for Columbia.
In the July 15 letter, Shipman said the university was working toward an agreement with the Trump administration, which she said has put a “harsh spotlight on many of the difficult issues regarding discrimination and harassment” on its campuses.
Shipman said Columbia will incorporate the definition of anti-Semitism as recommended by the university’s Task Force on Antisemitism in August 2024 into its anti-discrimination policies.
Columbia will appoint Title VI and Title VII coordinators who will oversee the university’s implementation of these legal provisions, she said.
