15 students suspended, others warned for unprepared protests following October 7 Hamas attack on Israel.
Columbia University president Nemat Shafik testified before the House Committee on Education and the Workforce regarding antisemitic incidents at the university since Israel-Hamas war began.
Five professors under disciplinary proceedings, one to never teach again.
Shafik acknowledged past ineffective handling of incidents and defined antisemitism as discrimination against Jewish faith.
April 17, 2024
Columbia University president Nemat Shafik testified before the House Committee on Education and the Workforce on April 17, 2024, regarding allegations of antisemitic incidents at the university since the Israel-Hamas war began. The hearing came after Republicans accused Columbia of tolerating antisemitic chants from student protesters and remarks glorifying Hamas from professors (New York Times).
During the hearing, Shafik tried to reassure the committee that she was taking steps to address antisemitism on campus. She announced that Columbia had initiated disciplinary proceedings against five professors, one of whom would never teach at the school again. The university also suspended 15 students and warned others after being unprepared for protests following the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel (CNN).
Republicans pressed Shafik on her handling of antisemitic incidents and her definition of antisemitism. Shafik stated that any discrimination against people for their Jewish faith is antisemitism. She also acknowledged that the university had not always handled incidents effectively in the past but was taking steps to improve (CNN).
Meanwhile, Columbia students occupied the campus in solidarity with faculty members who were being grilled by Congress. The students demanded that Shafik take a stronger stance against antisemitism and protect free speech on campus (Fox News).
Columbia University’s president, Nemat Shafik, is being questioned by a Republican-led House committee about antisemitic incidents on campus since the Israel-Hamas war began.
Republicans accused the university of tolerating antisemitic chants from student protesters and remarks glorifying Hamas from professors.
Three faculty members who defended Hamas or made hostile remarks towards Israeli students were identified by Representative Elise Stefanik in rapid-fire questioning.
Columbia had initiated disciplinary proceedings against five professors, one of whom would never teach at the school again.
The university suspended 15 students and warned others after being unprepared for protests following the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel.
Any student calling for the genocide of Jews would be punished by Columbia University.
