Rep. Tim Walberg (R-Mich.), chairman of the House Education and Workforce Committee, sent a letter to administrators at Columbia University requesting disciplinary records for “numerous antisemitic incidents that have taken place at Columbia since the fall 2024 semester began,” despite commitments and promises from the university to combat antisemitism on its campus.
“For more than a year, leaders have made public and private promises to Jewish students, faculty and members of Congress that the university would take the steps necessary to combat the rampant antisemitism on Columbia’s campus,” stated the letter.
“Yet,” it continued, “Columbia has failed to uphold its commitments, both because the disciplinary process has failed and because the campus administration has refused to enforce its pre-existing rules. Columbia’s continued failure to address the pervasive antisemitism that persists on campus is untenable, particularly given that the university receives billions in federal funding.”
The 11 incidents in question included when students protested Jewish students entering Columbia’s Hillel building on Nov. 21 and when about a half-dozen anti-Israel protesters disrupted a modern Israeli history class on Jan. 21 of this year, distributing anti-Israel and antisemitic fliers.
“The fact that Columbia has allowed these activities to continue to take place on campus is of deep concern to the committee,” read the letter. “Unfortunately, Columbia’s Trustees, interim president and deans have not met their promises or commitments. Their negligence has created a hostile environment for members of Columbia’s Jewish communities and resulted in severe disruptions to the learning environment.”
The letter states that administrators—interim president Katrina Armstrong and the two co-chairs of Columbia’s board of trustees—have until Feb. 27 at noon Eastern Standard Time to provide the requested information to the House committee.
Minouche Shafik, Columbia’s former president, resigned last year amid rising antisemitism and subsequent investigations into the university.