Columbia University is adopting the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of antisemitism within its Office of Institutional Equity to enhance its policies against antisemitism. Claire Shipman stated that this formal addition supports the university's commitment to combating discrimination. The IHRA definition includes considerations regarding Israel but specifies that legitimate criticism of Israel is not antisemitic. The decision has faced backlash, being labeled an attack on free speech by some, including the Council on American-Islamic Relations. Negotiations are also ongoing with the federal government regarding funding related to campus antisemitism.
"Formally adding the consideration of the IHRA definition into our existing anti-discrimination policies strengthens our approach to combating antisemitism," Claire Shipman said in a statement.
The IHRA definition of antisemitism states that it includes the targeting of the state of Israel, conceived as a Jewish collectivity.
Afaf Nasher criticized Columbia's decision as an "attack on free speech" and a "shameless weaponization of antisemitism" to silence opposition to Israeli policies.
Columbia's leaders have been negotiating with the Trump administration to restore funding frozen over alleged campus antisemitism, similar to Harvard's actions.
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