Columbia University’s woke policies have backfired spectacularly. A federal investigation by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has exposed the Ivy League school’s failure to shield Jewish students from relentless harassment over 19 months, as Just the News reports. The findings, released late on Thursday, paint a grim picture of administrative neglect.
The HHS probe determined that Columbia violated the civil rights of Jewish students by ignoring a hostile environment that disrupted their education. In a single sentence, the feds concluded the university breached Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 with its “deliberate indifference” to antisemitic harassment. Actions, it seems, have consequences.
Protests targeting Jewish students erupted across Columbia’s campus last year, making it a flashpoint for antisemitic activism. These demonstrations weren’t peaceful debates but aggressive disruptions, including one this year where protesters stormed a library during finals. Columbia’s response? A shrug.
The HHS Office for Civil Rights (OCR) didn’t mince words in its report. Investigators found that Columbia’s inaction allowed a toxic environment to fester for over a year and a half. This wasn’t a one-off oversight but a sustained failure to uphold basic protections.
“The findings carefully document the hostile environment Jewish students at Columbia University have had to endure,” said Anthony Archeval, acting director of HHS’ civil rights office. Endure is right -- students faced 19 months of harassment while administrators twiddled their thumbs. Progressive priorities, it appears, trumped student safety.
Archeval’s statement didn’t stop there. “We encourage Columbia University to work with us to come to an agreement that reflects meaningful changes,” he added. Translation: Fix this mess or face the consequences.
Columbia’s campus became a hub for antisemitic protests last year, part of a broader wave at colleges nationwide. These weren’t just chants and signs -- demonstrators targeted Jewish students with intimidation tactics. The university’s response was as effective as a screen door on a submarine.
This year, the chaos continued unabated. Protesters disrupted a library where students were cramming for finals, showing zero regard for academic integrity. Columbia’s leadership was too busy polishing its progressive credentials to intervene.
The OCR’s findings underscore a simple truth: Ignoring harassment doesn’t make it disappear. By failing to act, Columbia emboldened agitators and left Jewish students to fend for themselves. That’s not leadership; it’s cowardice.
Title VI of the Civil Rights Act demands that schools protect students from discrimination based on race, color, or national origin. Columbia flunked this test spectacularly, per the HHS investigation. Jewish students weren’t just uncomfortable -- they were systematically targeted.
The 19-month timeline of harassment is staggering. That’s over a year and a half of Columbia looking the other way while its students suffered. Woke platitudes about inclusivity ring hollow when the administration ignores real victims.
The OCR’s conclusion of “deliberate indifference” is a legal gut punch. It means Columbia didn’t just fail -- it chose to fail. That’s a stain no amount of PR spin can erase.
The HHS investigation puts Columbia on notice: Shape up or face further scrutiny. Archeval’s call for “meaningful changes” isn’t a suggestion -- it’s a mandate. The university’s days of dodging accountability may be numbered.
Columbia’s predicament is a cautionary tale for other schools chasing progressive clout at the expense of student safety. When ideology trumps responsibility, everyone loses -- especially the students who trusted their institution to protect them. Turns out, wokeness isn’t a substitute for spine.
As the dust settles, one thing is clear: Columbia’s Jewish students deserved better. The HHS findings are a wake-up call for universities nationwide to prioritize real equity over performative gestures. Here’s hoping Columbia takes the hint.
