A Republican lawmaker torched Columbia University President Minouche Shafik in a Thursday letter for misleading Congress about a seemingly mandatory orientation document that included “shockingly offensive” DEI terms such as “Ashkenormativity.”
Rep. Jim Banks (R-Ind.) accused Shafik of offering contradictory testimony about the bizarre woke glossary, which he said had been sent his way by a former student.
“Multiple pieces of evidence contradict your suggestion that Columbia University had no relation to the DEI glossary,” Banks wrote.
“As I stated at last week’s hearing, the DEI glossary perfectly expresses the radical, left-wing sentiments and worldview that have fostered antisemitism on your campus,” Banks added.
“Antisemitism at Columbia is now so pervasive, and anti-Israel protestors have made the campus so dangerous for Jewish students, that, for the rest of this semester, Columbia is offering a remote option for all its courses.
“This is a complete failure by Columbia to fulfill its basic obligations as a publicly funded university.
The “Review the DEI Glossary Terms” orientation document had been featured on the Columbia School of Social Work’s website — but was taken down shortly after a scathing New York Times article highlighting it.
“The student who emailed me [these pre-orientation materials] was paid to be in this position as a [Professional Development and Self Awareness] orientation leader,” the ex-Columbia undergrad wrote to Banks in an email reviewed by The Post.
“The glossary is clearly not some student-made term book. It was sanctioned by CSSW,” the alum told the congressman.
Banks quizzed Shafik and members of the Columbia University Board of Trustees during a House Education and Workforce Committee hearing on April 17.
“President Shafik, I understand you’re very proud of the Columbia University School of Social Work,” Banks asked. “Can you define for us the word ‘Ashkenormativity’?”
“I don’t use that term. I don’t know that term,” Shafik said, suggesting it was “something that a group of students produced.
“I don’t think it’s a product of the School of Social Work,” she added.
“Let me read to you how ‘Ashkenormativity’ is defined,” Banks interrupted, “a system of oppression that favors white Jewish ‘folx,’ based on the assumption that all Jewish ‘folx’ are Ashkenazi, or from Western Europe.”
“Is that appropriate?” he pressed. “It is handed out to your students.”
“I don’t agree with it. I don’t think it’s very useful,” Shafik replied. “I don’t condone it.”
Board of Trustees co-chair David Greenwald, when asked the same question, declared it was a “shockingly offensive” term, and fellow trustee board chair Claire Shipman called it “outrageous.”
“Can you help me understand something else, I didn’t go to an Ivy League school admittedly,” Banks, an Indiana University graduate, went on. “Can you explain why the word ‘folx’ is spelled ‘f-o-l-x’ throughout this guide book. What does that mean?”
“They don’t know how to spell?” Shafik offered weakly, prompting laughter from some Columbia undergrads seated behind her. “I’m not familiar with that spelling.”
“I don’t find it a laughing matter,” Banks shot back. “You are aware that it’s handed out to all of your students — and you’re not doing anything to stop it.”
House Education and Workforce chairwoman Virginia Foxx accused Shafik of also giving “false testimony” about a faculty member, Professor Joseph Massad, being under investigation for antisemitic conduct.
No such investigation has occurred, Foxx (R-NC) said during a press conference at the Morningside Heights school on Wednesday.
The Education panel is probing Columbia and other schools over their harboring of antisemitism in recent years.
Banks has asked Shafik to clarify by May 16 whether the DEI glossary “was sanctioned by CSSW,” whether Columbia paid for it, and who prepared the document.
