Prof. Deborah Lipstadt, a leading Holocaust historian who until recently served as the Biden administration's Special Envoy to Combat Antisemitism, declined an offer to teach at Columbia University due to concerns about antisemitism on campus, as well as harassment and threats directed at her.
In a personal column penned for The Free Press, Lipstadt, 77, who was the first ambassador to hold this White House-appointed role, expressed doubts about the university's genuine commitment to taking the necessary steps to ensure a free and impartial academic environment.
"Until last week, I had been seriously considering teaching at Columbia University next year as a visiting professor. But I’m now convinced that to do so would be folly—to serve as a prop or a fig leaf. Moreover, I feel doing so would mean putting myself and my students at risk.
"It was from that perch that I watched the alarming unraveling of campuses that claimed to be dedicated to the pursuit of truth transform themselves into places where basic morality had been inverted. Following Hamas’s attack of October 7, 2023, things went from bad to worse."
Lipstadt, a Jewish-American historian and Holocaust scholar, was previously named one of Time magazine's 100 most influential people in the world. She is best known for her research on Holocaust denial and for the landmark libel trial in Britain in 2000, when Holocaust denier David Irving sued her for calling him a denier in her book Denying the Holocaust. Lipstadt won the case, setting a legal precedent in the fight against Holocaust denial and the spread of historical disinformation.
In her column, Lipstadt wrote, "So I was pleased and surprised last week when Barnard, the women’s college of Columbia University, expelled two students who had participated in an assault on a Columbia course on the history of modern Israel in January of this year, on the first day of classes. The students marched into the room, disrupted the session, prevented it from proceeding, and distributed antisemitic flyers. One of the flyers read 'Crush Zionism,' and had an illustration of a boot stomping on a Star of David. Another depicted an Israeli flag on fire and bore the caption 'Burn Zionism to the ground.'"
Lipstadt specifically criticized the university's response to recent events on campus, particularly since the October 7, 2023, massacre. She expressed disappointment that the university administration had succumbed to pressure from pro-Palestinian protesters, granting them de facto immunity despite their violations of university regulations.
"My decision to withdraw my name from consideration for a teaching post at Columbia is based on three calculations.
"First, I am not convinced that the university is serious about taking the necessary and difficult measures that would create an atmosphere that allows for true inquiry.
"Second, I fear that my presence would be used as a sop to convince the outside world that 'Yes, we in the Columbia/Barnard orbit are fighting antisemitism. We even brought in the former Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism.' I will not be used to provide cover for a completely unacceptable situation.
"Third, I am not sure that I would be safe or even able to teach without being harassed. I do not flinch in the face of threats. But this is not a healthy or acceptable learning environment. Following her decision, Columbia University President Professor Katrina Armstrong personally reached out to Lipstadt in an attempt to persuade her to reconsider and to share her personal commitment to combating antisemitism. However, Lipstadt remained unconvinced, telling the president that the university did not appear genuinely committed to academic freedom or the fight against antisemitism."
Columbia University responded to the publication of Lipstadt's article with an unusual official statement, emphasizing that she had been invited to teach as part of efforts to deepen discussions on antisemitism and Holocaust history on campus. The statement claimed that under President Armstrong's leadership, the university was taking multiple steps to combat antisemitism, including appointing a new campus rules enforcement officer, strengthening campus security, and establishing a central office for institutional equity.
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"Columbia University is committed to ensuring an inclusive and safe learning environment for all students," the statement read. "We view the recruitment of experts like former Ambassador Lipstadt as an opportunity to expand academic discussion and deepen understanding of these important issues. Respectful engagement with diverse, fact-based perspectives is a central part of what makes Columbia a unique institution of learning and inquiry."
In 2022, Lipstadt was appointed by the Biden administration as the Special Envoy to Combat Antisemitism at the U.S. State Department. In this role, she worked to strengthen international cooperation in the fight against antisemitism, monitor incidents of hatred toward Jews worldwide and promote legislation and initiatives to prevent antisemitism in the U.S. and other countries. She served in this position until January 2025 and had seriously considered returning to academia, but now says, "I am convinced that doing so would be a mistake."