Columbia University faced criticism after a campus dining menu appeared to reference the 2023 Hamas terror attacks on October 7th. The menu item, "October 7th Blush Sauce," was publicized by Israeli newspaper Haaretz correspondent Simone Saidmehr, who shared an image of the menu on social media.
The image sparked concern among many, who interpreted the reference to the date as a nod to the approximately 1,200 victims of the terror attacks. However, Columbia University officials disputed this claim, stating that the menu printing was an "unfortunate mistake."
In a statement to Fox News Digital, Vicki Dunn, assistant vice president of Columbia Dining, explained that the date was accidentally left in the menu template when the day's meal information was copied in. She added that the university's staff removed the signs as soon as the mistake was identified and that Columbia Dining will review menus before they are posted in the future.
Columbia University released a similar statement on X, stating that the date was accidentally left in the menu template and that the signs were removed as soon as the error was caught. The university expressed regret for the concern and confusion caused by the mistake.
Columbia University has faced controversy in the past, including multiple federal civil rights investigations and a $221 million settlement with the Trump administration in 2025, related to allegations of discriminatory practices and antisemitic employment discrimination against Jewish faculty.
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