Reporting Hate Crimes

Columbia University takes any and all allegations of hate or bias crimes seriously. Anyone who believes they may have been the victim of a hate crime or may have witnessed a hate crime should contact the Department of Public Safety immediately. When Public Safety receives a report of a hate crime, a department investigator will interview witnesses, collect evidence and make any and all notifications to other departments at Columbia University. Depending on the seriousness of the matter, the Department of Public Safety may refer the matter immediately to the NYPD or to the appropriate dean or supervisor for Dean’s Discipline or other actions.

All crimes, including hate or bias crimes, reported to the Department of Public Safety that were alleged to have occurred in Columbia’s Clery-Reportable geography will be added to the Daily Crime Log within two business days. Additionally, if a hate or bias crime rises to the level of a Clery Crime, the Department of Public Safety will include the incident in the statistics published yearly in the Annual Security and Fire Safety Report. If a Clery Crime is determined to represent a continuing danger to the community, a Clery Crime Alert may be sent out to the community as well.  

Additionally, bias-related conduct is prohibited by laws that include, but are not limited to, Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972; the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; the Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1988; and the New York State and New York City Human Rights Laws. 

The New York State Hate Crimes Act of 2000 (New York State Penal Code § 485.05) states that a bias-related crime occurs when a person commits a specified criminal offense and: 

  • intentionally selects the person against whom the offense is committed or intended to be committed in whole or in substantial part because of a belief or perception regarding race, color, national origin, ancestry, gender, religion, religious practice, age, disability or sexual orientation of a person, regardless of whether the belief or perception is correct; 
  • intentionally commits the criminal act or acts constituting the offense in whole or in substantial part because of a belief or perception regarding the race, color, national origin, ancestry, gender, religion, religious practice, age, disability or sexual orientation of a person, regardless of whether the belief or perception is correct. 

For more information about Columbia University’s policies on Hate or Bias Crimes please contact:

The Office of University Life

Philosophy Hall

1150 Amsterdam Avenue

New York, NY 10027

212-853-1628

[email protected]

You can also report any crimes including hate or bias crimes to the Department of Public Safety:

Morningside Campus 

535 West 116th Street 

101 Low Library 

New York, NY 10027 

212-854-2797 

Manhattanville Campus 

3270 Broadway 

New York, NY 10027 

212-853-3301 

Medical Center Campus 

650 West 168th Street 

109 Black Building 

New York, NY 10032 

212-305-8100 

 

 

For more information on the Clery Act requirements regarding the identification and reporting of hate or bias crimes, please contact the Director, Clery Act Compliance, Roberto A. Pineda Sanchez, by emailing [email protected].