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Antisemitism at Columbia University

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Columbia University, New York City

Antisemitism at Columbia University was prevalent in the first half of the 20th century and resurged in the early 21st century. In 1920 Columbia University was the first American university to initiate quotas on Jews, halving the Jewish student population in two years. In the early 21st century and acutely after the October 7, 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel, students and staff protests and commentary were criticized as antisemitic and scrutinized by the US Congress, which opened an investigation on Columbia University. In April 2024, Columbia University President Minouche Shafik condemned antisemitic acts by students and faculty in campus and said the university was in a "moral crisis". United States president Joe Biden and the mayor of New York, Eric Adams condemned the 2024 anti-Israel protests as antisemitic and condemned the calls for violence and harassment against Jews. In August 2024, the university's antisemitism task force reported that the university had failed to prevent violence and hate or protect Jews in the university.

20th century

During the 20th century American anti-Jewish sentiment was common in America, and American universities imposed quotas on Jews to restrict the number of Jews in universities. Such efforts first began in Columbia University. New York City, in which Columbia University is situated in the early 20th century had a population that was[clarification needed]. In 1920, Columbia University had a 40% Jewish enrollment rate according to Oliver Pollak.[1]

Since most Jewish students at the time were came from poor families they had to work night jobs to pay their tuition and also lived at home to save money.[citation needed] So Columbia required students to live in dormitories in campus as well as limiting scholarships to limit the number of Jewish students who could afford to study in the university. Columbia also began to conduct interviews in admissions process and according to Mark Oppenheimer university representatives detected accents or telling signs of Jewish origin if the name of the applicant was clearly not Jewish. According to Nadell, elite Protestants students began to abandon Columbia due to its changing culture, after the initiation of the program Columbia halved the number of Jewish students within two years (1920–22).[2]

In the early 20th century some school administrators held anti-Jewish beliefs which rationalized by them and that their sentiment was based on social reality. In 1903, dean of Columbia wrote that "What most people regard as a racial problem is really a social problem.".[3]

21st century

Columbia Unbecoming

Main article: Columbia Unbecoming controversy

The Columbia Unbecoming controversy, which involved disagreements over Israel between Professor Joseph Massad and a number of his Jewish students, began in the early 2000s. Notably, Massad gave a lecture in 2002 titled "Zionism and Jewish Supremacy", which was described in an op-ed by Daphna Berman in the Columbia Daily Spectator. In this op-ed, Berman directly compared the lecture to a swastika that had recently been discovered in a campus bathroom.[4] Throughout this incident and subsequent events, Massad maintained that he was opposed to all forms of antisemitism.[5] The dispute between Jewish students and Massad ultimately culminated in the production and release of Columbia Unbecoming, a film that consisted of taped interviews with students who claimed that their pro-Israel views had led to unfair treatment from Massad in his classes.[6] The production of the film had been supported by The David Project, a pro-Israel college group that later merged with Hillel. Following the formation of an ad-hoc committee by the college to investigate Massad's alleged conduct, it was ultimately concluded in a 24-page report that no evidence existed to support the claims against Massad, and that instead Massad himself had actually been victim to systemic harassment from pro-Israel students and groups.[7] However, the report did acknowledge one confrontation from 2002 that had occurred between Massad and student Deena Shanker during his class "Palestinian and Israeli Politics and Societies".[8]

2018 vandalism incident

In late November 2018, psychology Professor Elizabeth Midlarsky discovered antisemitic vandalism in her office.[9] The vandalism included two large red swastikas and antisemitic slurs painted on her wall. Midlarsky had previously been the subject of a similar incident in 2007, when a swastika had been painted on her office door and antisemitic fliers had been placed in her mailbox.[10]

Department of Education complaint

On December 19, 2019, a student at Columbia filed a complaint with the Department of Education, claiming that the administration's inaction had led to an environment where students and staff are "harassed, singled out and discriminated against under the guise of ‘pro-Palestinian’ advocacy."[11] The student claimed that repeated interruptions of pro-Israel events by anti-Israel groups, as well as Israeli Apartheid Week, justified his complaint.

Post-October 7th attacks

Protests at Columbia University on April 22, 2024

Following the October 7, 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel, Joseph Massad, a Columbia University professor in Middle Eastern, South Asian and African studies said that the attack on Israel, in which 1200 Israelis were killed including civilians, was a "resistance offensive" and "awesome".[12] President Shafik condemned his comment in April 2024 and said he was under investigation, also saying Massad no longer has a leadership role in the university. InsideHigherEd reported however that in the 2024-24 Academic year Massad chaired an academic review panel in the college of the arts and sciences.[12]

Following the October 7 attack, Mohamed Abdou, a visiting scholar who had said that he sides with Hamas and Islamic Jihad was hired by the university. In April 2024 president Minouche Shafik said Abdou was on his way out of the university.[12]

Katherine Franke a professor of law in Columbia said that all students who have served in the IDF are dangerous and shouldn't be allowed on campus.[12]

A task force on antisemitism was created by the university in late 2023.[13]  

The university was sued by Jewish students which said that in the university “mobs of pro-Hamas students and faculty march by the hundreds shouting vile antisemitic slogans, including calls to genocide.”[14]

In a hearing before Congress in April 2024, Columbia University president Minouche Shafik condemned antisemitism and said that "from the river to the sea" is antisemitic. Professors in the university were under investigation according to the president for antisemitic remarks.[14][12] Shafik said that dozens of students were disciplined and that Columbia University is in a "moral crisis".[13]

During anti-Israel protests, some students called for intifada and urged Hamas brigades to kill Israeli soldiers.[15][16] Anti-Israel activists sang songs in support of Hamas and chanted slogans expressing solidarity with the organization. The Palestine Solidarity Working Group defended militancy and praised Hamas's attacks against Israel.[15] Anti-Israel protestors also made derogatory remarks towards Jewish students, telling them to "Go back to Europe" and taunting them with calls of "Jews" and "Go back to Poland".[15]

Jewish students reported feeling unsafe, being spat on, and expressed relief at leaving the university. They felt their grievances were not adequately represented by student representatives. One protestor threatened Jewish students, stating, "The 7th of October is going to be every day for you!".[17] Some of the anti-Israel protestors also chanted "From the water to the war (a reference to the Jordan river and the Mediterranean), Palestine is Arab" which is considered a call for the cleansing of the region from Jews and the denial of Jewish rights for self sovereignty in their ancestral homeland.[15][18][19]

Journalist Seth Mandel argued that universities were promoting the idea that Jews should be displaced from their homes because they belong to a race that supposedly belongs elsewhere, citing incidents at Columbia University as an example.[20] The Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) and the Workers Organizing for Liberation (WOL) both advocated for the destruction of Israel and the targeting of Jewish Israelis, and played a role in organizing the protests at Columbia University.[17]

The President of the United States, Joe Biden condemned the protests saying "Even in recent days, we’ve seen harassment and calls for violence against Jews. This blatant antisemitism is reprehensible and dangerous – and it has absolutely no place on college campuses, or anywhere in our country."[21]

The protestors responded by saying they were peaceful and distanced themselves from non-student protestors.[22] The mayor of New York said he was "horrified and disgusted with the antisemitism being spewed at and around the Columbia University campus." And increased police presence around campus.[22] New York State governor Kathy Hochul likewise condemned the protests stating that students have the "right to learn in an environment free from harassment or violence".

Following the incident, Robert Kraft, owner of the New England Patriots football team said he would stop donating to the university due to its inability to keep Jewish students safe and was saddened by the hatred growing in campus and the country.[23]

Due to the intensity of anti-Israel protests, Columbia University allowed students to take classes and exams virtually.[22] Rep. Virginia Foxx, chair of the United States House Committee on Education and the Workforce, warned Columbia University that the failure of Columbia to ensure safety was in violation of the university's Title VI obligations, on which is conditioned federal assistance to the university.[22] 

Rabbi Elie Buechler, who is linked to Columbia University's Orthodox Union Jewish Learning Initiative, urged Jewish students to remain home or return home due to safety concerns.[22]

In June 2024, the Jewish Chronicle reported that Columbia academics held classes in protests. The Chronicle also reported that professors questioned Jewish students regarding their opinions on Israel's military campaign. The Chronicle also found that Jewish students were told by the professors that the Jews "control the media" an antisemitic trope.[24][25]

In July 2024, the university's president and provost announced in a joint statement that three deans had been placed on permanent leave after leaked text messages revealed discussions about Jewish life on campus that "disturbingly touched on ancient antisemitic tropes."[26]

Antisemitism task force report

The university's antisemitism task force released a report in August 2024 in which it reported on Columbia university's failures to prevent violence and hate or protect Jews in the university.[27] The report called for urgent action against antisemitism.[28] The antisemitism task force reported that antisemitism is common in students' clubs, classrooms and dorms.[27] The antisemitism task force over 20 meetings interviewed 500 students regarding antisemitism in Columbia.[27] According to the report, a Jewish student who placed a mezuza on her dorm's doorway in accordance with Jewish tradition was targeted from October onwards, leading her to leave the dorm.[27] The task force found that a faculty member had recommended not to allow Israeli military veterans to study in the university. Jewish Israelis must serve in the Israeli military in Israel.[27] Another faculty member told an Israeli student veteran that she served an “army of murderers,”.[27] The report also found that a faculty member referred to Jewish donors “wealthy white capitalists” as well as accused Jewish donors of laundering in the university.[27] According to the report, Jewish students were chased off campus, students wearing the traditional Jewish Kippah were spat on, and a Jewish woman was pushed. The report found that the term "Zionist" was conflated with Jews and there was a "slippage" that "felt intentional" in the usage of the terms.[27][29] The report also found that the anti-Zionism in the university is closer to antisemitism than criticism of Israel.[29] Armstrong, the interim president of Columbia said the "incidents of antisemitism recounted in this report are completely unacceptable" and said there was "no place" for discrimination or hate in Columbia University.[29]

See also

References

  1. ^ Pollak, Oliver B. (1983). "Antisemitism, the Harvard Plan, and the Roots of Reverse Discrimination". Jewish Social Studies. 45 (2): 113–122. ISSN 0021-6704. JSTOR 4467214.
  2. ^ Strauss, Valerie (November 13, 2023). "A brief history of antisemitism in U.S. higher education". Washington Post.
  3. ^ "How Jewish Quotas Began". Commentary Magazine. September 1, 1971. Retrieved April 25, 2024.
  4. ^ Berman, Daphna (February 26, 2002). "Masks of Tolerance". Columbia Daily Spectator. p. 5. Retrieved September 3, 2024.
  5. ^ "Academic Freedom and the Teaching of Palestine-Israel: The Columbia Case, Part II". Journal of Palestine Studies. 34 (4): 75–107. July 1, 2005. doi:10.1525/jps.2005.34.4.75. ISSN 0377-919X.
  6. ^ Sherman, Scott (March 16, 2005). "The Mideast Comes to Columbia". ISSN 0027-8378. Retrieved September 3, 2024.
  7. ^ "Ad Hoc Grievance Committee Report". academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu. Retrieved September 3, 2024.
  8. ^ "Columbia report addresses anti-Semitism charges". The Brown Daily Herald. Retrieved September 3, 2024.
  9. ^ News, A. B. C. "Columbia University professor's office vandalized with swastikas, anti-Semitic words". ABC News. Retrieved September 3, 2024. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  10. ^ Xia, Karen. "Columbia Teachers College professor's office vandalized with swastikas, anti-Semitic slurs". Columbia Daily Spectator. Retrieved September 3, 2024.
  11. ^ Ferdman, Soraya (January 3, 2020). "Columbia University Student Files Complaint Alleging Anti-Semitism". First Amendment Watch. Retrieved September 3, 2024.
  12. ^ a b c d e Knott, Blake, Katherine, Jessica. "Columbia President Weathers Grilling Over Campus Antisemitism". Inside Higher Ed.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  13. ^ a b https://www.npr.org/2024/04/17/1245168995/columbia-university-testimony-antisemitism
  14. ^ a b Blinder, Alan (April 17, 2024). "4 Takeaways From the Hearing on Antisemitism at Columbia University". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved April 25, 2024.
  15. ^ a b c d "'Burn Tel Aviv to the ground:' Calls for violence continue at Columbia". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. April 21, 2024. Retrieved April 25, 2024.
  16. ^ "Tel Aviv – The Left Wing Liberal Heart of Israel". www.tel-aviv.co.uk. Retrieved April 25, 2024.
  17. ^ a b Chait, Jonathan (April 22, 2024). "Why Anti-Israel Protesters Won't Stop Harassing Jews". Intelligencer. Retrieved April 25, 2024.
  18. ^ Otterman, Sharon (March 21, 2024). "What Is Antisemitism? A Columbia Task Force Would Rather Not Say". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved April 25, 2024.
  19. ^ Goldman, David (April 11, 2024). "ADL gives Harvard and a dozen other universities failing grades on campus antisemitism | CNN Business". CNN. Retrieved April 25, 2024.
  20. ^ "United States of Charlottesville". Commentary Magazine. April 22, 2024. Retrieved April 25, 2024.
  21. ^ Egan, Celina Tebor, Zoe Sottile, Matt (April 21, 2024). "Columbia University faces full-blown crisis as rabbi calls for Jewish students to 'return home'". CNN. Retrieved April 25, 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  22. ^ a b c d e Egan, Celina Tebor, Zoe Sottile, Matt (April 21, 2024). "Columbia University faces full-blown crisis as rabbi calls for Jewish students to 'return home'". CNN.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  23. ^ "Jewish professor barred from Columbia University campus as 'pro-Hamas mob' demonstrates". The Telegraph. April 23, 2024. Retrieved April 25, 2024.
  24. ^ Pope, Felix. "Columbia professors questioned Jewish students about IDF and told them media 'owned by Jews'". www.thejc.com. Retrieved September 1, 2024.
  25. ^ "WHEN IT'S ANTISEMITIC:". American Jewish Congress.
  26. ^ "3 Columbia University officials lose posts over texts that 'touched on ancient antisemitic tropes'". AP News. July 8, 2024. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
  27. ^ a b c d e f g h Belkin, Douglas (August 30, 2024). "Columbia Failed to Stop Hate, Violence Against Jews on Campus, New Report Says". The Wall Street Journal.
  28. ^ Fahy, Claire (August 30, 2024). "Columbia's Antisemitism Task Force Finds 'Urgent Need' for Change". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved September 1, 2024.
  29. ^ a b c Tress, Luke (August 31, 2024). "Columbia task force reports 'crushing' discrimination against Jews and Israelis". The Times of Israel.
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