Jewish graduates of Columbia University tore into their alma mater for allegedly failing to rein in antisemitism on campus — telling administrators they need to “do their job.”
“Who could have ever imagined that Columbia University would be the site for rallies calling for Intifada, for swastikas scrawled on campus property and for Jewish students to be intimidated and followed as they walk home from class,” said Matt Schweber, a member of the newly formed Columbia University Jewish Alumni Association.
“Our message today: enough is enough,” Schweber said in a statement provided to The Post. “It must be stopped. The administration must do their job.”
The alumni association also provided The Post with a link to video of what it called an unauthorized rally on campus last week, with hundreds of anti-Israel protesters chanting “intifada, intifada!” and “From the River to the Sea, Palestine Will be Free!” Critics say the phrase calls for wiping the Jewish State of Israel off the map.
Others held BDS signs — the initials for the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement against the Jewish State.
Michae Oren, a Columbia alum who served as Israel’s ambassador to the United States from 2009 to 2013, said, “In a recent roundtable with Columbia and UPenn students the moderator asked everyone if, in light of everything that’s happened, they would still have chosen to come to their school. All the UPenn kids said yes. All the Columbia kids said no.
“This shows the situation is bad, but not hopeless. If UPenn can implement real change, Columbia can too,” Oren said.
Former Penn President Liz Magill resigned last December following her disastrous congressional testimony about addressing antisemitism on campus.
The US Department of Education is investigating Columbia over complaints of antisemitism.
Bryan Rudolph, a co-founder of Columbia Jewish Alumni Association said, “Jewish Alumni at Columbia University must come together to help stop what is happening on campus because, as we have found, the administration either can’t or won’t stop the calls for violence.
“The greatness of any academic institution lies in its commitment to diversity of thought and its unwavering stand against bigotry,” Rudolph said. “As we’ve learned from history, the exclusion of Jews or any group based on identity is a step towards academic and moral bankruptcy.”
Columbia indefinitely suspended four students and evicted them from their dorms last week for their alleged involvement in an unauthorized March 24 “Resistance 101” event, the university’s student newspaper the Spectator reported.
The “Resistance 101” event was hosted by Barakat, who identified as a member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. The group is on the US list of terrorist organizations.
A Columbia U. rep insisted the Ivy League university in Morningside Heights is fighting bigotry.
“As President [Minouche] Shafik and the administration have consistently made clear, antisemitism is antithetical to Columbia’s values. We are using every available tool to keep our community safe and that includes protecting our Jewish students from antisemitic discrimination or harassment,” a Columbia spokesperson said.
“We will pursue discipline against any member of the community that has violated our policies. Maintaining a safe, civil, inclusive and respectful campus environment is always a core priority for the university administration and never more so than at present.”
Shafik last week issued a statement saying it was “abhorrent” that an unauthorized anti-Israel event “featured speakers who are known to support terrorism and promote violence.”
She also appeared to refer to an unauthorized anti-Israel event rally that took place on April 4.
“We are in the process of identifying participants and they will face discipline under our policies. This university will only thrive if we can build a strong foundation of respect – both for each other and for our rules,” Shafik said.
Shafik is scheduled to testify on April 17 before the House Committee on Education and the Workforce investigating campus anti-semitism.
