Federal The second question on the survey asked respondents to select all applicable boxes.
Federal Including options for identifying as Jewish, Israeli, having Jewish or Israeli ancestry, or practicing Judaism.
The surveys are being conducted amid a broader effort by the Trump administration to target higher education institutions, with an emphasis on combating antisemitism and addressing concerns raised by
President Donald Trump about “Hamas sympathizers” on college campuses.
One anonymous staff member, who received the text, voiced concerns about the potential scope of the information shared with the government.
However, the breach of privacy felt by recipients has shaken them.
“Barnard seems willing to do whatever it takes to appease an administration that wants to impose its will on our college, dictating who we teach and how,” Becher commented.
The administration has been outspoken in its opposition to pro-Palestinian student protests that have erupted on several campuses, including Columbia, since the Israel-Hamas war began.
During his second week in office, President Trump signed an executive order aimed at addressing antisemitism on college campuses.
Last month, Columbia was named among 60 universities under investigation by the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights, warning that the school could face “potential enforcement actions”.
“There’s a concerning dynamic where administrators and faculty, who should be united during these challenging times, are not working together,” Milanich said.
“We should be defending our institution and the values of our college, but this feels like more evidence that we’re not doing that as we should.”