Statement From Interim President Armstrong on the Second Report of the Task Force on Antisemitism

I am grateful to the Task Force on Antisemitism, its co-chairs, and its members for their work on this report, particularly their focus on listening to and elevating the voices and experiences of our students. Let me be very clear. The painful and distressing incidents of antisemitism recounted in this report are completely unacceptable. They are antithetical to our values and go against the principles of open inquiry, tolerance, and inclusivity that define us.

I have said it before, and I will say it again: discrimination and harassment, including hate language, calls for violence, and the targeting of any individuals or groups based on their beliefs, ancestry, religion, gender identity, or any other identity or affiliation have no place at Columbia. This is an opportunity to acknowledge the harm that has been done and to pledge to make the changes necessary to do better and to rededicate ourselves, as University leaders, as individuals, and as a community, to our core mission of teaching and research.

As we welcome students back for the start of a new academic year, we are focused on ensuring their safety, supporting their wellbeing, and protecting their ability to learn. Work has already been underway on initiatives that align with a number of the recommendations outlined in this report. They include an expansion of education and training offerings and the creation of a new Office of Institutional Equity, which will help centralize, strengthen, and streamline our work to address harassment complaints, including those relating to antisemitism. They also include the establishment of the Campus Climate Collaborative, updated Guidelines to the Rules of University Conduct, and a revitalization of the Inclusive Public Safety Advisory Committee.

To the members of the Task Force, I appreciate the depth and breadth of this analysis and how closely you have examined academic and extracurricular environments across the institution, with an eye toward practical recommendations and how to best implement them. The Task Force was created to work independently, to render its thorough, honest, and critical assessments without interference. The goal has always been to understand more holistically the effects of antisemitism on our community in order to deliver concrete, actionable solutions. 

As the report makes clear, improving the climate at Columbia requires ambitious, concerted, and long-term efforts across the University. The recommendations the Task Force proposes to enhance the sense of safety, wellbeing, and belonging for Jewish students will make our entire community stronger. I welcome them. I thank the co-chairs and members of the Task Force for their hard work and for their determination to make sure that Columbia lives up to our mission and our commitment to be a place where diversity of background and thought is embraced, where disagreements are rooted in civil discourse, and where all members feel like they belong. 

Katrina A. Armstrong
Interim President
Columbia University in the City of New York