Some political figures are calling for punitive actions against Columbia University due to perceived antisemitism, such as cutting off federal funding, which could harm many Jewish students who rely on financial aid.

A surge in federal investigations and lawsuits related to antisemitism on college campuses, occurring almost every other day since Oct. 7, has been fueled by incidents targeting Jewish students, often tied to speech about Israel.

In recent congressional testimony, presidents from Harvard, MIT, and UPenn refused to denounce terrorism or clarify whether calls for the genocide of Jews constitute harassment.

The Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights has announced investigations into several prominent universities, including Harvard, Cornell, and Columbia, following scores of complaints and lawsuits alleging failure to protect Jewish students from severe and pervasive antisemitism.

US Education Secretary Miguel Cardona has warned that colleges could face funding cuts if they fail to address antisemitism and other forms of bigotry.