Columbia’s New President Reaffirms Commitment to Trump-Era Antisemitism Reforms

Columbia University’s newly appointed acting president, Claire Shipman, announced on Friday that she will uphold and continue implementing policy reforms aimed at combating antisemitism reforms originally introduced under pressure from the Trump administration.

The commitment follows the university’s March 21 agreement to sweeping changes required to restore $430 million in suspended federal research funding. In her message to the Columbia community, Shipman called the measures “the right thing to do” and affirmed that implementation was already in progress.

“We are not changing course,” said Shipman, a former ABC and CNN journalist. “I’ve seen, firsthand, the devastating impact of antisemitism on our community. I also understand the pain of having our institution labeled this way. But that doesn’t mean we should shy away from addressing a very real problem.”

The measures include stricter enforcement of campus masking bans, consistent disciplinary action for harassment, and increased protection for Jewish students—many of whom have been targeted during months of radical anti-Israel protests.

Despite the announced policies, enforcement has been inconsistent. Protesters defied the new rules by rallying in masks, even distributing them openly. Columbia’s graduate student union condemned the reforms as “repressive,” while radical groups accused the university of collaborating with federal immigration authorities in the recent arrest of a foreign national student.

Shipman also addressed these rumors directly, denying that Columbia’s administration or Board of Trustees had ever contacted U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) regarding any member of the community.

“We are proceeding, with integrity and care,” she stated, noting that Columbia remains in negotiations with the federal government to reinstate the blocked funding. In the meantime, the university will cover the salaries and stipends of affected researchers.

But Shipman’s leadership faces immediate hostility. Just one day after assuming her new role, the campus group Columbia University Apartheid Divest responded by defacing bathrooms with red paint, Hamas-style triangle symbols, and vulgar images of the president. They branded her “AIPAC-backed” and called for her resignation.

The vitriolic reaction underscores the broader challenges facing Columbia as it attempts to restore order, reaffirm academic integrity, and ensure safety and inclusivity for all students. By committing to the reforms and resisting intimidation, Shipman has signaled a firm stance in the face of rising campus antisemitism.

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