Columbia University’s president, Nemat Shafik, appeared before the House Education and Workforce Committee on Wednesday to address the alarming rise of antisemitism on campus. This urgent hearing comes four months after a contentious congressional session that led to the resignations of two Ivy League presidents.
Shafik denounced antisemitism in her opening statement. “Antisemitism has no place on our campus, and I am personally committed to doing everything I can to confront it directly.” She acknowledged that while there has been an increase in antisemitic incidents at Columbia, it is not pervasive, and the “vast majority” of demonstrations have been peaceful.
However, GOP members of Congress and some Jewish students paint a different picture, arguing that Columbia has become a hotbed of hatred against Jewish people. They cite disturbing incidents, such as a Jewish student being hit with a stick while putting up posters of Israeli hostages and protesters chanting what some consider calls for the genocide of Jews.
North Carolina Republican Virginia Foxx, chair of the House committee holding the hearing, accused Columbia of “gross negligence at best” and, at worst, of becoming “a platform for those supporting terrorism and violence against Jewish people.” Just hours before the hearing, pro-Palestinian students protested on Columbia’s campus, potentially violating the university’s new rules adopted in February.
Jewish students from Columbia shared harrowing experiences of threats, physical confrontations, and taunts, including having Star of David necklaces torn off and being told that “the Holocaust wasn’t that special.” Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., vowed to hold Columbia accountable for failing to protect its students.
The hearing comes on the heels of a tumultuous period for Ivy League universities, with the presidents of Penn and Harvard resigning following the December hearing. Tensions continue to run high on campuses across the country.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.