A group of current and former Palestinian students and staff have filed a discrimination lawsuit against Columbia University in New York state court, accusing the institution of failing to protect them from harassment while targeting them with unfair disciplinary proceedings.
The five plaintiffs — including a professor, a former professor, and current and former students — allege discriminatory treatment dating to late 2023. The complaint focuses on an Office of Institutional Equity established in August 2024, which they say investigated Palestinians for participating in demonstrations or wearing keffiyehs, relying on the IHRA definition of antisemitism. The suit also claims the university hired private investigators to secretly monitor pro-Palestinian students.
The action follows Columbia's suspension of more than 65 students in May 2025 over the occupation of Butler Library. The university previously agreed to a $200 million settlement to restore withdrawn federal funding.