About the Task Force on Antisemitism
The Columbia Task Force on Antisemitism was created to address the harmful impact of rising antisemitism on Columbia’s Jewish community and to ensure that protection, respect, and belonging extends to everyone. It released its fourth and final report in December 2025. Antisemitism has been rising around the world, around the country, and in New York City, and Columbia is far from immune. We are urgently addressing the reality that Jewish members of our three interconnected institutions feel vulnerable to antisemitic bias and harassment and lack the sense of belonging that should be shared by all of us.
The task force was led by Ester R. Fuchs, Professor of International and Public Affairs and Political Science and Director of the Urban and Social Policy Program at SIPA; Nicholas Lemann, Joseph Pulitzer II and Edith Pulitzer Moore Professor of Journalism and Dean Emeritus of Columbia Journalism School; and David M. Schizer, Harvey R. Miller Professor of Law and Economics and Dean Emeritus of Columbia Law School. The task force members were a diverse group of faculty from across the University equipped to assess where policies, practices and other tools and programs could be enhanced to improve the ability of Jewish students to learn and thrive on campus free from bias and harassment.
Scope
The task force focused on understanding how antisemitism manifests on campus and ways to improve the climate for Jewish students, faculty, and staff. Antisemitism most directly threatens the Jewish community. But it is also an affront to the core values of our community. And fighting it should not be the responsibility of Jews alone nor can progress be achieved by the administration alone. Every member of the Columbia community has a role to play in helping Jews and all communities feel safe and included. Many task force findings and recommendations were intended to bolster efforts to prevent and mitigate all forms of hate, bigotry, and bias—and to improve the health of our campus as a welcoming place to learn and thrive.
The task force worked on several broad initiatives. It engaged in a serious and honest assessment of the sources and extent of the discomfort that many Jewish members of the Columbia community were feeling. This took the form of listening sessions with students, faculty, staff, and others most directly affected. In this initiative, the task force sought insights and perspectives from a broad array of professionals who touch the lives of students, from faculty to teaching assistants to Residential Life professionals. The task force documented these various experiences and perspectives, so everyone in the Columbia community could gain a deeper understanding of the relevant challenges and the dynamics contributing to them.
The Task Force on Antisemitism reviewed University policies, rules, and practices that impact the campus climate to make sure they protect the University’s core commitment to free speech, as well as to a safe and inclusive environment for all Columbians, including Columbia’s Jewish community. This work was done in consultation with the University Senate and other governing bodies.
The task force also launched an inclusion and belonging survey and proposed various other ways to sensitize the entire community to antisemitism, to counter it more effectively, and to support Jews at Columbia. It also considered ways that academic and intellectual life could be enhanced to promote Jewish studies and ensure that it fully embodies the principles of free expression and viewpoint diversity.
The task force made recommendations in stages, beginning in early 2024 in an effort to have the most immediate possible impact. Longer term, it recommended more ambitious changes to help institutionalize and sustain progress toward an improved campus climate.
Areas of Focus
Review University policies, rules and practices that impact campus climate to make sure they are consistent, well- aligned and that they are being applied fairly and consistently in ways that protect students and honor Columbia’s bedrock commitment to academic freedom and free expression.
Building awareness, understanding, and solidarity. The task force proposed approaches to better sensitize the entire community about antisemitism, how it functions and ways to counter it and to support Jews at Columbia. Extracurricular offerings and many facets of campus life can help strengthen social support networks by fostering cross community conversations, solidarity and understanding.
Academic and intellectual life can be enhanced to promote Jewish studies as well as to ensure that it fully embodies the principles of free expression and viewpoint diversity.