Columbia University

Takeaways from the NY primaries: Shifting Jewish power centers, Mamdani the Kingmaker and more

Mamdani, at his rally last week backing his preferred candidates, triggered backlash from Jewish corners for comparing pro-Israel lobbyists AIPAC to “monsters.”

Brad Lander, candidate for New York’s 10th Congressional District, speaks to the media while standing next to New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani during a watch party after winning the primary elections in Brooklyn, New York, U.S., June 23, 2026.
Democratic candidate for New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani speaks after winning the 2025 New York City Mayoral race, at an election night rally in the Brooklyn borough of New York City, New York, US, November 4, 2025.

The Mamdani effect: Democratic incumbents now have to worry about being too pro-Israel - opinion

Demonstrators hold placards that read "Free Mohsen" in reference to Mohsen Mahdawi, a Palestinian student at Columbia University, who was detained, as they gather at Foley Square in Manhattan, New York City, US, April 15, 2025.

Anti-Israel Columbia protest leader Mohsen Mahdawi fights deportation to Jordan

Mayor Zohran Mamdani announces the appointment of Christine Clarke as chair and commissioner for the New York City Commission on Human Rights at Diversity Plaza in Jackson Heights, Queens in New York City, New York

Mamdani endorses former Columbia encampment organizer Darializa Avila Chevalier


Columbia University students return under shadow of Trump antisemitism deal

Some within Columbia are concerned that a new antisemitism definition adopted by the university, which recognizes some criticism of Israel as discriminatory toward Jews, would chill academic freedom.

Thanassis Cambanis, holding microphone and fellow protesters rally near Columbia University's main campus gates in New York, Sept. 2, 2025, to lace into the school's new agreement with the Trump administration, as well as the decision to keep some doors closed for the start of the school year.

Trump administration revoked more than 6,000 student visas, State Dept says

Around 4,000 visas were canceled because the visitors broke the law, with the vast majority being assault, State Department officials said.

PROTESTERS CALL for the release of Palestinian activist and Columbia University graduate student Mahmoud Khalil in New York City, last month. On campuses like Columbia and in all levels of education, better Holocaust education is needed, says the writer.

Mahmoud Khalil pushes back on claims of antisemitism at Columbia in Ezra Klein interview

“I would say there is this manufactured hysteria about antisemitism at Columbia because of the protests,” Khalil said.

 MUSLIM PROTESTERS pray outside Columbia University’s main campus in March as they denounce the arrest of Mahmoud Khalil, in New York City. The writer asks: Should Khalil, a radical leader, be protected because of ‘free speech?’

Brown University strikes $50M deal with Trump admin over allegations of campus antisemitism

The announcement comes one week after Columbia University agreed to a $221 million settlement with the Trump administration over funding canceled in March over antisemitism allegations.

Sayles Hall on the campus of Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island.

History of bad faith: Columbia’s pledge to fight antisemitism can’t be trusted - opinion

Given its long history of bad faith, however, we shouldn’t take Columbia’s promises, or even its latest actions, as a guarantee that the school has learned its lesson.

ACTING PRESIDENT CLAIRE SHIPMAN speaks at Columbia University’s commencement ceremony in Manhattan in May. As her own private correspondence makes clear, she is at best a craven partisan operative and at worst a Jew-hater, the writer charges.

Columbia suspends, expels and revokes degrees of over 70 pro-Palestine protesters

Separately, two Columbia janitors who claimed they were held hostage during a pro-Palestine protest in April 2024 have reached a settlement agreement with the university.

Pro-Palestinian protesters demonstrate outside the main campus of Columbia University during the commencement ceremony in Manhattan in New York City, US, May 21, 2025.

Europe is again failing the Jews: Campus antisemitism reaches Maastricht and beyond - opinion

Maastricht is not the outlier. It is the European Columbia, an institution that traded enlightenment for tribalism, critical thinking for fashionable activism, and universal human rights for purges.

SYRIAN ZIONIST Mohammed Sadek shows support for Rawan Osman on the day of her speech at Maastricht University on March 12, in Maastricht, Netherlands.

Columbia ends uncertainty with Trump deal, head says

Columbia said it also agreed to settle investigations brought by the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission for $21 million

 Pro-Palestinian protesters demonstrate outside the main campus of Columbia University during the commencement ceremony in Manhattan in New York City, May 21, 2025.

Columbia University, Trump administration reach deal over funding

In a statement, the university said will pay a $200 million fine over three years to settle allegations that it failed to do enough to stop the harassment of Jewish students on campus.

 Pro-Palestinian protesters demonstrate outside the main campus of Columbia University during the commencement ceremony in Manhattan in New York City, May 21, 2025.

Columbia University disciplines dozens of students for pro-Palestinian library protest

Following the protest, the university began an investigation into rules violations, banned participants from the campus and placed them on interim suspension, it said.

 Pro-Palestinian protesters take part in a demonstration at Butler Library on the Columbia University campus in New York, U.S., May 7, 2025.