Latest News from Campus

The White House is reviewing Harvard University’s federal funding, which includes $255.6 million in contracts and $8.7 billion in multi-year grants. Officials are assessing whether Harvard is complying with civil rights laws following reports of antisemitism on campus. Harvard President Alan Garber said funding cuts could affect research and innovation, and that the university would “take the measures that will move Harvard and its vital mission forward.”

The U.S. Task Force to Combat Antisemitism canceled $400 million in federal grants and contracts with Columbia University, citing the institution’s lack of response to persistent harassment of Jewish students. Columbia responded in a statement, saying: “We take Columbia’s legal obligations seriously…and are committed to combatting antisemitism and ensuring the safety and wellbeing of our students, faculty, and staff.”

The U.S. Task Force to Combat Antisemitism is reviewing $5 billion in grant funding to Columbia University due to high levels of antisemitism on campus. The task force, which includes representatives from the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Education, and the General Services Administration, is investigating Columbia’s response to antisemitic incidents. While the university has expressed a commitment to addressing these issues, the potential funding cuts highlight ongoing concerns about the safety and security of Jewish students.

Former U.S. Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism Deborah Lipstadt explains why she recently chose not to teach at Columbia University, citing its lack of response to antisemitism following October 7. In this op-ed, she criticizes the university for failing to protect Jewish students and denounces the hostile campus environment that has developed in its aftermath.

An anti-Israel protest in Brooklyn’s Orthodox Jewish Boro Park neighborhood escalated as protestors chanted antisemitic rhetoric, including “Settlers, go back home” and “Zionists go to hell.” Protestors and counter-protestors clashed in physical confrontations, prompting police intervention and at least one arrest. New York political leaders condemned the protest, citing concerns over the antisemitic rhetoric.

The American Jewish Committee (AJC) released their 2024 State of Antisemitism in America Report. The report found that a majority of American Jews have altered their behavior — by avoiding certain activities and behaviors — due to fears related to high levels of antisemitism.