Columbia University president accused of running one of the country’s worst ‘hotbeds of anti-Semitism and hatred’ while defending ‘peaceful’ Hamas protesters

Columbia students claim their university did nothing to address a “tsunami of anti-Semitism” on campus after the Hamas attack — just as President Nemat Shafik testifies before the House Education and Workforce Committee.

“In the five months since October 7, the Columbia government has stood idly by as a tsunami of anti-Semitism in the form of intimidation, bullying, exclusion, intimidation and physical violence engulfed every aspect of campus life,” said a Jewish student at a meeting in New York. press conference prior to the hearing.

Jewish students told stories of Star of David chains being torn from their necks as they walked to class, having anti-Semitic slogans shouted in their faces as they said Columbia “doesn’t offer transparency about what they do, or even anything to the people who violate university rules’. .’

Republican House Speaker Elise Stefanik said: “Columbia’s leadership refuses to enforce its own policies and condemn Jewish hatred on campus, creating a breeding ground for anti-Semitism and a hotbed of support for terrorism from radicalized faculty and students.’

Pro-Palestinian students take part in a protest in support of Palestinians amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza, at Columbia University in New York City, US.

At the start of the anti-Semitism hearing, chairwoman Virginia Foxx played a video of students gathering in Columbia chanting “Intifada!” shouted. and ‘We will honor all martyrs!’ regarding the Hamas attackers on October 7.

“While anti-Semitism rages on countless college campuses, Columbia University stands out as one of the worst offenders,” Foxx pointed out.

Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, D-Ore., asked Shafik whether singing “intifada” violates Columbia’s rules.

“I find it incredibly distressing, and I really wish people wouldn’t use them on our campus,” Shafik said. “It is abhorrent and has no place in our community.”

She continued, “I think one of the issues that we’re actively debating right now… is actually clarifying where language crosses the line from protected speech to discriminatory or harassing speech.”

The president said one of the suggestions from the school’s anti-Semitism task force was to limit where students could protest. ‘If you are going to sing, it should only be done in a certain place, so that people don’t want to hear it, or are protected from having to hear it.’

Shafik maintained that she has worked aggressively to combat anti-Semitism on campus, including holding more than 200 meetings on the topic, holding daily meetings of the campus security team and working with the NYPD and FBI when hate crimes occur on campus.

She said the “vast majority” of protests on campus have been “peaceful” and that the college is focused on upholding freedom of expression but “cannot and should not tolerate abuse of this promise to intimidate and discriminate .’

“While anti-Semitism rages on countless college campuses, Columbia University stands out as one of the worst offenders,” Foxx points out.

NYPD officers stand guard as people gather to protest the ban of Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) and Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP) at Columbia University

“The ultimate answer to anti-Semitism and all its forms is education,” Shafik said.

An earlier anti-Semitism hearing in January had devastating consequences for other university presidents criticized by Republicans for excusing anti-Semitism: Harvard President Claudine Gay and Penn President Liz Magill resigned after appearing before the Education and Workforce Committee.

Democrat Bobby Scott played a clip from the 2017 “Unite the Right” rally in Charlottesville.

“While I appreciate my colleagues’ renewed concerns about some full-privileged students on campus, I want to note that this is contrary to House Republicans’ budget proposals,” he said.