Former Columbia student Mahmoud Khalil sues university and dean for discrimination

Activist and former Columbia University student Mahmoud Khalil has filed a civil lawsuit against Columbia University and Dean of the School of General Studies, Dr. Michael Rosenberg. The complaint, lodged in New York State Supreme Court on Tuesday, alleges that the university and the dean engaged in actions that violated Khalil’s constitutional and statutory rights while he was enrolled as a student and later as an activist on campus.

According to the filing, Khalil contends that the defendants’ conduct resulted in personal and professional harm, prompting him to seek monetary damages and injunctive relief. The lawsuit adds that the alleged misconduct reflects broader concerns about the treatment of student activists at higher‑education institutions. Columbia University has not yet issued a public response, and the case is expected to proceed through the standard pre‑trial motions and discovery process.