The Prestigious Academic Life Of A Columbia University Student

Columbia University is a private Ivy League university in Upper Manhattan, New York City. It is one of the oldest universities in the United States and the largest private landowner in New York. The university's main campus occupies 32 acres in the Morningside Heights neighbourhood, with almost two dozen undergraduate dormitories located on campus or in Morningside Heights. Columbia University has a racially diverse student body, with approximately 52% of students identifying as persons of colour. The university received 60,551 applications for the class of 2025, with an overall acceptance rate of 3.66%.

Columbia University's history of antisemitism and anti-Palestinianism

Columbia University has a history of providing a platform for discourse on Palestine and has been accused of antisemitism and anti-Palestinianism. The university has been at the forefront of debates surrounding alleged antisemitism on campuses, with pro-Israel groups increasingly pursuing allegations of antisemitism, resulting in hearings, lawsuits, expulsions, and the targeting of foreign students with pro-Palestinian views.

In 2024, Columbia University witnessed pro-Palestinian campus occupations, with groups such as Columbia University Apartheid Divest (CUAD), Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP), and Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP) organizing protests. These protests led to counter-protests by pro-Israel groups and conflicts between the university administration and faculty. The university claimed that antisemitic incidents occurred during the protests, while organizers attributed them to non-students and agitators.

Columbia has been accused of capitulating to demands by the Trump administration to curb pro-Palestinian activity on campus, including restricting protests and taking control of the Mesaas department, which was viewed as a symbol of a pro-Palestinian climate. The university's Middle East Institute and Center for Palestine Studies have also been mentioned as venues where students engage with scholarship on Palestine.

In March 2025, a Columbia University student, Mahmoud Khalil, was arrested and detained for his role in campus protests against Israel. Khalil described his arrest as "anti-Palestinian racism" and accused the university of targeting him for his activism. The university has also faced scrutiny from the Joint Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism, which canceled federal grants and contracts due to concerns about the harassment of Jewish students and the university's failure to end antisemitic behavior.

Columbia's history with antisemitism includes a period of discriminatory treatment towards Jewish students. At the turn of the 20th century, Jewish immigrants' children began enrolling at Columbia, and by 1920, the university was estimated to be 40% Jewish. This shift in demographics posed a marketing challenge, leading to a decline in admissions of Jewish students to attract students from elite backgrounds.

Columbia University's endowment and funding

Columbia University's endowment plays a crucial role in the institution's financial stability and growth. The endowment, managed primarily by the Columbia Investment Management Company (IMC), is a substantial source of funding for the university. For the fiscal year ending in 2024, the total value of Columbia University's endowment was approximately $14.8 billion, generating an 11.5% return on its managed assets. This endowment is governed by the New York Prudent Management of Institutional Funds Act (NYPMIFA), which ensures donor intent is respected and maintained over time.

The IMC, governed by a board of financial professionals and led by its President and CEO, Kim Lew, adopts a long-term investment strategy. It aims to generate attractive risk-adjusted returns while maintaining the stability and growth of the endowment. The IMC manages the endowment as a "fund of funds," outsourcing investment management to external entities such as BlackRock, which then invests in other funds and companies. This approach allows the university to diversify its investments across various stocks, funds, and companies.

Endowment funds provide Columbia University with a permanent and predictable source of funding. Approximately 12% of the university's annual budget is supported by endowment distributions. These funds are essential for financial aid, faculty support, research, schools, departments, institutes, and capital projects. The endowment helps maintain Columbia's commitment to excellence in teaching, research, and patient care.

In addition to the endowment, Columbia University receives critical support from philanthropy and private gifts. The combination of endowment distributions and private donations enables the university to sustain its programmatic excellence, maintain its infrastructure, and invest in future initiatives. The university's operating revenue for fiscal year 2023 was $6.2 billion, with total operating expenses reaching $5.9 billion.

The endowment also serves as a strategic financial cushion, as demonstrated by Columbia's ability to withstand external funding cuts. For instance, the university faced a challenge when federal funding of $400 million was cancelled, but the endowment provided a financial buffer during this period.

Columbia University's main campus

Columbia University, officially Columbia University in the City of New York, is a private Ivy League research university in New York City. It was established in 1754 as King's College on the grounds of Trinity Church in Manhattan and is the oldest institution of higher education in New York and the fifth-oldest in the United States. The university's main campus is in the Upper Manhattan neighbourhood of Morningside Heights, occupying more than six city blocks, or 32 acres, in a neighbourhood that contains several academic institutions. The main entrance to the campus is at 116th Street and Broadway, and it is primarily boxed off by the streets of Amsterdam Avenue, Broadway, 114th Street, and 120th Street, with some buildings located just outside this area. The campus was designed along Beaux-Arts planning principles by the architects McKim, Mead & White.

The university owns over 7,800 apartments in Morningside Heights, housing faculty, graduate students, and staff. There are also almost two dozen undergraduate dormitories on campus or in the surrounding neighbourhood. Columbia University has an extensive tunnel system, with the oldest portions predating the present campus. Some of these tunnels remain accessible to the public, while others have been closed off. The campus is served by the New York City Subway at 116th Street-Columbia University, and several bus routes.

Columbia University is home to two pioneers in undergraduate campus broadcasting: WKCR-FM and CTV. Many undergraduates are also involved with Barnard's radio station, WBAR. The university also has several secret societies, including St. Anthony Hall, founded in 1847, and two senior societies, the Nacoms and Sachems. The basketball, fencing, swimming and diving, volleyball, and wrestling programs are based at the Dodge Physical Fitness Center on the main campus.

In 2006, the university established the Office of Environmental Stewardship to initiate, coordinate, and implement programs to reduce its environmental footprint. The U.S. Green Building Council selected the university's Manhattanville plan for the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Neighbourhood Design pilot program.

Columbia University's satellite sites

Columbia University has various satellite sites and campuses, both within the United States and internationally. The University's main campus is in Morningside Heights, New York City, where buildings such as the Low Memorial Library and Philosophy Hall are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In 2007, Columbia University also purchased a 17-acre site in Manhattanville, an industrial neighbourhood north of the Morningside Heights campus, with the plan to develop a new campus.

In addition to its New York campuses, Columbia maintains a satellite site in Paris, France, where classes are held at Reid Hall. The University also has over 20 locations across the United States, including a dedicated residential campus in Columbia, Missouri.

Columbia University also has a global presence through its Columbia Global Centers, which aim to facilitate international research, education, and engagement. Furthermore, the University is associated with the Center for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN) within the Columbia Climate School. CIESIN is based at the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory and works at the intersection of social, natural, and information sciences, specialising in data management and interdisciplinary research.

Columbia University's public access controversy

Columbia University, one of the oldest universities in the United States, has been at the centre of a public access controversy. In October 2023, the university closed its gates, citing anticipated protests on campus over the war in Gaza as the reason. This move restricted access to a portion of 116th Street known as College Walk, which, according to a 1953 agreement between the university and the city of New York, is a public space. The closure has impacted nearby residents, particularly seniors, who now face longer travel times around the campus.

The university's decision to close its gates has sparked a contentious debate and led to a lawsuit filed by students and residents. They argue that the university is stifling free expression and that College Walk should remain a public space. In response, the university has defended its decision, citing security concerns and the need to maintain a safe environment for its community.

In addition to the public access controversy, Columbia University has also faced scrutiny for issues related to campus protests, federal funding disputes, and accusations of antisemitism. Following the October 2023 terrorist attack against Israel, the university became a hotspot for pro-Hamas agitation, with marches, occupations, vandalism, and violence occurring on campus. This caught the attention of the Trump administration, which threatened to withhold $400 million in public funding unless the university enacted meaningful reforms to address these issues.

Under pressure, Columbia University's board of trustees announced a series of new policies and concessions to the administration's demands. These included restrictions on demonstrations, new disciplinary procedures, a ban on masked protests, increased campus security, and a review of its admissions policy and Middle East curriculum. The university also established administrative oversight over its radical "post-colonial" academic departments, which had been accused of promoting anti-Semitism and anti-Israel sentiment.

While some criticised Columbia University's decision to acquiesce to the Trump administration's demands, others acknowledged the necessity of addressing the issues on campus. The university's anti-Semitism task force co-chair noted that the reforms aligned with ongoing efforts to improve the campus environment. The university also emphasised its commitment to open discourse, the exchange of ideas, and its obligation to the public interest through its various advisory committees and reviews.

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