In a move that has split opinion on and off campus, Columbia University has decided to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's (IHRA) controversial definition of antisemitism, a move partly aimed at thawing a freeze on $400 million in federal research funds, The Guardian reports. Columbia's Acting President Claire Shipman outlined in a letter the intention to incorporate this definition into the university's anti-discrimination policy, stating "Columbia is committed to taking all possible steps to combat antisemitism and the University remains dedicated to ensuring that complaints of discrimination and harassment of all types, including complaints based on Jewish and Israeli identity, are treated in the same manner."
While the university contends that the adoption of the IHRA's definition, which includes examples that have been criticized for blurring the line between anti-Zionism and antisemitism, strengthens its stance against discrimination, concerns remain about potential impacts on free speech, specifically around criticism of Israel "Formally adding the consideration of the IHRA definition into our existing anti-discrimination policies strengthens our approach to combating antisemitism," Shipman's letter explained, a sentiment not shared by all considering that hundreds of faculty and others have called on the university to adopt this contentious definition, which includes speech that could be perceived as "targeting the state of Israel," according to The Guardian.
The federal funding was originally withheld by the Trump administration's "joint task force on antisemitism," which cited Columbia's perceived inaction regarding alleged antisemitic incidents on campus, including harassment of Jewish students. In further action, Columbia has also promised to hire more administrators to respond to discrimination complaints and partner with organizations fighting antisemitism, with these moves seen by some as efforts to demonstrate compliance to the government's demands and secure the return of the withheld funds, as per Gothamist.
Despite the university's assurances that it is "following the law" and not capitulating, critics, including Pro-Palestinian and free-speech advocates, have expressed "grave" concerns; Joseph Howley, an associate professor of classics at Columbia, told Gothamist that he is worried about the university's decision to use the definition "at the behest of Donald Trump and [White House adviser] Stephen Miller," while simultaneously reaching an agreement with the Trump administration which has led to a more divisive environment where both Jewish and pro-Palestinian students report feeling alienated and discriminated against.
