• Dozens of Barnard College staff were texted regarding their Jewish identity.
• The texts are part of a federal investigation led by the EEOC.
• Barnard officials state the participation in the survey is voluntary.
• Concerns are raised about the implications of such government outreach.
• The inquiry follows pro-Palestinian demonstrations at Columbia University.

On Monday, numerous current and former employees of Barnard College received unsolicited text messages asking if they were Jewish or Israeli, raising significant alarm within the community. These texts, from the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), linked to a growing federal investigation into allegations of discrimination against Jewish employees at the college, which is affiliated with Columbia University, according to The New York Times, India Times, and Anadolu Agency.

The survey questions are focused on personal experiences of antisemitism, including inquiry about whether respondents faced "unwelcome comments, jokes or discussions," or disruptions from anti-Israeli protests. Serena Longley, Barnard's general counsel, confirmed the college had provided the personal information of staff to the EEOC, emphasizing that participation in the survey is voluntary, according to The New York Times and India Times.

Reactions from staff have been overwhelmingly critical, with concerns about government tactics resembling historical patterns of persecution. Debbie Becher, a Barnard sociologist, described the message as "terrifying," reflecting fears among faculty about privacy and safety. Nara Milanich, a history professor, pointedly remarked, "We’ve seen this movie before, and it ends with yellow stars," criticizing the government's methods as "fishing," according to India Times and Anadolu Agency.

Previous scrutiny of Columbia University relates to federal funding withheld over its alleged inaction against antisemitism. The institution and its affilaites, including Barnard, are currently under examination, with the Trump administration exerting pressure on elite universities amid ongoing controversies surrounding free speech and academic freedom in the context of pro-Palestinian protests. Columbia confirmed that it had complied with the EEOC's requests for staff contact information, and Barnard is also adhering to the requests despite faculty concerns, according to The New York Times, India Times, and Anadolu Agency.