During a congressional hearing, Columbia University’s president, Dr. Nemat Shafik, denounced antisemitism on campus while addressing her management of protests related to the Gaza war. Dr. Shafik affirmed that calls for the genocide of Jews clearly violated college policies.
However, Dr. Shafik provided a more nuanced response when discussing another slogan that some deem antisemitic. The phrase “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” which refers to the land from the River Jordan to the Mediterranean Sea, has been interpreted by Jewish groups as a call for the elimination of Israel. Pro-Palestinian activists defend it as a call for Palestinian independence.
The hearing, which was conducted by the Republican-led House of Representatives Committee on Education and the Workforce, also featured testimonies from three other Columbia officials. Claire Shipman, co-chairwoman of the board of trustees, expressed her concerns about a moral crisis on campus due to the behavior of some students and faculty members.
The backdrop of this congressional scrutiny follows a series of events where Columbia students, in support of Palestine, camped out on a campus lawn demanding the university divest from companies linked to Israel. This act was part of broader accusations by Republicans that elite US institutions like Columbia harbor antisemitic sentiments.
In response to these challenges, Dr. Shafik reported that the university has taken disciplinary actions, including the suspension of 15 students and probation for six others due to violations of campus protest policies.
This hearing comes after similar congressional sessions last year involving leaders from other Ivy League schools such as the University of Pennsylvania and Harvard University, both of whose presidents resigned following criticism over their handling of antisemitism.
At the hearing, Dr. Shafik and her colleagues were unequivocal in condemning antisemitism, underscoring Columbia’s commitment to a discrimination-free community.
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