Barnard College has settled a major lawsuit with Jewish students who accused the school of egregious civil rights violations and ignoring campus antisemitism for years. The lawsuit, filed in June 2024, alleged the college allowed anti-Jewish hatred to fester unchecked while offering protections to other minority groups.
In response, Barnard agreed to sweeping policy changes. The college will now appoint a Title VI coordinator, enforce anti-harassment training focused on antisemitism, and consider the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism—though it still refuses to formally adopt it. The IHRA definition recognizes that “denying the Jewish people their right to self-determination… is a form of anti-Semitism.”
The lawsuit came after Jewish students endured a wave of hate following the October 7 Hamas attacks. Protesters stormed campus buildings, handed out Hamas propaganda, and physically assaulted security guards during anti-Israel riots. Barnard has now pledged to ban cooperation with Columbia University Apartheid Divest, the student group behind the violent protests.
Barnard College President Laura Ann Rosenbury claimed the “settlement reflects our ongoing commitment” to inclusivity. But conservative groups say the move comes far too late. Carly Gammill of StandWithUs stated, “Antisemitism should never be normalized or accepted.”
Attorney Marc Kasowitz praised the resolution but warned other institutions: “I encourage other colleges and universities to do the right thing and follow Barnard’s lead.”
