NEW YORK –Columbia University students and faculty then criticize the school’s president she was questioned during a heated hearing on Capitol Hill about the school’s handling of anti-Semitism on campus.
The university’s main entrance remained closed Wednesday evening as pro-Palestinian students continued to protest.
The president of Columbia University testifies before Congress
Previously, Columbia’s president testified to Congress that students’ right to freedom of expression would be consistent with the rights of Jewish students to learn in an environment free from discrimination has been the central challenge at the school since October 7.
As the dueling pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli demonstrations swelled Wednesday afternoon at Columbia University, the school’s president, Minouche Shafik, said sat before the House Education Committee for five hours.
“Anti-Semitism has no place on our campus,” Shafik said.
The Republican-led committee accuses the Ivy League institution of mishandling anti-Semitic incidents on campus, including assault and vandalism.
New York Congresswoman Elise Stefanik blasted Shafik for the administration’s response to professors who used anti-Israel rhetoric, including Joseph Massad, who described the October 7 Hamas attack as “amazing,” “amazing” and “incredible.”
That professor is now under investigation, but he still chairs Columbia’s academic review board.
‘Will you commit to dismissing him as chairman?’ Stefanik asked.
“Um, I think that would be, I think, I would, yeah,” Shafik said.
In a statement to CBS News, Massad said lawmakers misrepresented his article and claim he was not contacted about an investigation.
Pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli protesters gather at Columbia University
“It’s clear that President Shafik doesn’t want to do anything, so she needs to get out of here because if she can’t get up, she needs to get out,” said Columbia professor Shai Davidai.
On campus Wednesday, the university gave students until 9 p.m. to disperse from an unapproved pro-Palestinian tent city they had set up or face suspension.
Meanwhile, students waved Palestinian flags outside the school’s main entrance, clashed with police and lit small fires late into the night.
“Columbia has shown time and time again that they don’t care about student rights, they don’t care about student votes, they don’t care about student safety,” said pro-Palestinian protester Aidan Parisi.
Parisi says they were suspended for refusing to cooperate with a school investigation after demonstrating in support of the Palestinians.
“They confuse anti-Zionism with anti-Semitism, which is inherently anti-Semitic in its own way,” they said.
But some Jewish students became visibly emotional as they walked past the meeting.
“To hear them cheering ‘intifada’ now, when it caused so much fear among so many Jews around the world, is just very disturbing,” said Kim Silverman, a Jewish graduate student.
Silverman said she regrets her decision to attend Columbia.
“I’m afraid to wear a Jewish star here. “I have had very nasty anti-Semitic comments made against me, and I just don’t understand how this is accepted,” she said.
At least one person was arrested on Wednesday. It is currently unknown whether any students have been suspended or expelled.
Ali Bauman
