Columbia University Students to Share Antisemitism Experiences in Federal Commission Listening Session
Students from Columbia University are scheduled to present their personal accounts of on-campus antisemitism on February 20 during a significant listening session organized by the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights. This development, initially reported by The Columbia Spectator based on information from a commission spokesperson, represents a critical moment in the ongoing federal examination of antisemitism in higher education institutions across the United States.
First Public Forum in Year-Long Federal Investigation
The upcoming listening session will serve as the commission's inaugural public forum within its comprehensive investigation into how federal agencies have addressed antisemitism on college campuses following Hamas' October 7, 2023, attack on Israel. This probe, which has been active for nearly a year, is scrutinizing responses at ten universities, though the specific institutions currently under review remain undisclosed to the public.
Hybrid Testimony Format with Multiple University Participants
According to detailed reporting from The Columbia Spectator, participating Columbia students will provide testimony through both in-person appearances at the commission's Washington, D.C., headquarters and virtual participation. While the exact number of Columbia students expected to testify has not been officially confirmed, the session will follow a formal briefing where the commission will hear from twenty-three federal, legal, academic, and policy experts.
Students from additional institutions are also scheduled to speak during this session, including representatives from:
- Harvard University
- California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
- American University
The commission is specifically evaluating the actions and responses of three key federal agencies:
- The Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights
- The Department of Justice
- The Department of Health and Human Services
Columbia's Evolving Status in the Federal Investigation
Earlier reports from Reuters indicated that the commission had sent formal interrogatories to both Columbia University and the University of Minnesota. A commission spokesperson confirmed to The Columbia Spectator earlier this week that Columbia had indeed received such a request. However, in a subsequent statement, the same spokesperson clarified that Columbia is no longer part of the sample of colleges under active investigation, though no specific reason was provided for this change in status.
A university spokesperson did not respond to The Columbia Spectator's request for comment regarding this development. This investigation unfolds against a backdrop of heightened federal scrutiny directed toward Columbia University. In March 2025, the administration of Donald Trump revoked $400 million in federal funding, citing significant concerns over the university's handling of antisemitism complaints.
A subsequent agreement in July 2025 resolved pending civil rights investigations, including a Title VI violation, and established a $21 million compensation fund specifically for employees who reported experiencing antisemitism since October 7, 2023.
Broader Political Context and Investigation Timeline
Commissioners Peter Kirsanow and Mondaire Jones are leading this comprehensive inquiry. The commission voted unanimously in January 2025 to initiate the investigation following a bipartisan September 2024 letter from twenty-three lawmakers who urgently called for action in response to rising antisemitism on college campuses nationwide.
As reported by The Columbia Spectator, the commission's findings and conclusions will be published in September as part of its fiscal year 2026 statutory enforcement report. This document will be formally titled "The Federal Response to the Rise in Antisemitism on American College and University Campuses."
