Columbia Jewish Faculty File EEOC Claims Over $21 Million Fund, Arguing Pro-Palestinian Jews Faced Harassment
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Jun 3
Columbia Jewish Faculty File EEOC Claims Over $21 Million Fund, Arguing Pro-Palestinian Jews Faced Harassment
3 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Jun 3
Summary
Half a dozen Jewish Columbia faculty members filed EEOC claims before this week’s deadline, saying they faced a hostile workplace because they backed Palestinian rights and student Gaza protests.
Their filings argue Columbia and its antisemitism response treated support for Israel as the only acceptable Jewish identity, exposing dissenting Jews to doxxing, threats, abuse and disciplinary scrutiny.
The claims target a $21 million settlement fund created under Columbia’s deal with the Trump administration, which framed compensation around antisemitism tied to post-October 7 protests and campus disruption.
Faculty members said they used the process to challenge what they called a false narrative that protests were broadly antisemitic, while acknowledging some real antisemitic incidents did occur.
The EEOC said response to the claims process was robust and notifications will begin as submissions are reviewed; Columbia did not comment.
Can a fund for victims of antisemitism also compensate Jews harassed for their pro-Palestinian views?
When Columbia promised 'Jewish safety,' which Jewish voices were actually being protected on campus?
How is the fight to define antisemitism on campus reshaping the future of free speech?
$221 Million Columbia-EEOC Antisemitism Settlement: Federal Pressure, Academic Freedom, and the Future of Campus Speech
Overview
The closure of the claims window for Columbia University's EEOC settlement in May 2026 marks a turning point after efforts to address campus antisemitism. The aftermath reveals a divided community, with Jewish faculty who support Palestinian rights reporting harassment such as doxing and accusations of antisemitism for their critical views on Israel. These nuanced experiences challenge common narratives about antisemitism at Columbia. The EEOC now faces the difficult task of evaluating these varied claims, highlighting the complexity of distinguishing between criticism of Israeli policies and genuine anti-Jewish bigotry, and underscoring the deep ideological divides on campus.