Columbia University Accused of Civil Rights Violations Over Alleged Anti-Jewish Harassment

The U.S. Department of Education has formally notified Columbia University’s accrediting body that the Ivy League institution allegedly violated federal anti-discrimination laws by failing to address persistent harassment of Jewish students on its campus.

In a joint statement released Wednesday, the Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) asserted that Columbia “acted with deliberate indifference” in response to what they described as “severe and pervasive harassment” of Jewish students. The agencies concluded that the university’s failure to respond adequately constituted a violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which bars discrimination based on race, color, or national origin by recipients of federal funding.

“Columbia failed to meaningfully protect Jewish students against severe and pervasive harassment on Columbia’s campus and consequently denied these students equal access to educational opportunities to which they are entitled under the law,” the statement said.

The allegations stem from a wave of student protests and encampments that began on Columbia’s campus in April 2024, shortly after the onset of Israel’s war on Gaza in October 2023. Columbia quickly became a focal point of nationwide demonstrations over the conflict, drawing media attention and federal scrutiny.

Education Secretary Linda McMahon condemned Columbia’s response to the unrest, stating that the university “ignored the ongoing harassment of Jewish students,” calling the failure both “immoral” and “unlawful.”

McMahon emphasized that Columbia’s accreditor, the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, has a duty to ensure its member institutions comply with both accreditation standards and federal civil rights laws.

“Accreditation institutions are the gatekeepers of federal student aid,” she said. “We expect the Commission to keep us fully informed of the steps Columbia is taking to comply.”

The Departments of Education and HHS said their determination was reached on May 22, following an investigation into complaints filed during the height of pro-Palestinian demonstrations. High-profile arrests of student activists such as Mahmoud Khalil and Mohsen Mahdawi earlier this year drew further federal attention to the campus. Both students have faced deportation proceedings.

The Trump administration, which has repeatedly clashed with Ivy League institutions over campus speech and immigration issues, accused demonstrators at Columbia of creating an unsafe environment for Jewish students. Protest leaders have denied the allegations, arguing their actions were protected political expression.

Columbia has been in negotiations with the Trump administration over $400 million in federal funding. Although the university had agreed to implement certain reforms in hopes of preserving its federal support, the government has not yet confirmed whether paused grants and contracts will be restored.

In March, Secretary McMahon acknowledged the university’s efforts, saying Columbia was “on the right track” toward regaining access to federal funds.

As of Wednesday, Columbia University had not issued a public response to the government’s latest findings. The Middle States Commission has also not commented on what steps, if any, it will take in response to the Department’s notification.