Columbia University is currently embroiled in controversy over its handling of antisemitism on campus, particularly after the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks. A task force established to monitor and combat antisemitism has chosen not to define the term, citing the highly contested nature of its definitions. This decision has sparked criticism, with some claiming rampant antisemitism across the campus. The university's reluctance to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism is contentious, with critics arguing it is necessary to effectively combat antisemitism, while supporters claim it could suppress legitimate criticism of Israeli policies. Additionally, the hiring of Prof Mohamed Abdou, who has made statements against Israel and America and was a featured speaker at the "Queer-Palestinian Solidarity" event, has further fueled the debate. Amid these developments, Columbia and Cornell University are under federal Title VI investigations for promoting and hiring professors with pro-Hamas views, following the "Turtle Island & Palestine: Indigeneity, Settler Colonialism & Genocide" seminar. The situation is further complicated by allegations of antisemitic behavior by faculty and students, including a viral professor who claims the university is retaliating against him for calling out campus antisemitism. Minouche Shafik, president of Columbia, faces scrutiny amid allegations including an alleged chemical weapons attack and calls for the execution of Gazan 12-year-olds.
Anti-American/anti-Israel Prof Mohamed Abdou, recently hired by @Columbia , was invited back to his grad school @Cornell to spew his antisemitic vitriol. At this point, these two universities appear to have a compulsive antisemitic problem. READ https://t.co/HJDoX5pbay https://t.co/fvcyT70Ygd
Minouche Shafik is president of @Columbia, where: 👉 Two students carried out an alleged chemical weapons attack 👉 A student called for execution of Gazan 12-year-olds 👉 A faculty member persistently harasses students What is going on? 📧 [email protected] https://t.co/x7a3ao9p4G
Viral Columbia professor who called out campus antisemitism says university investigating him in 'retaliation' https://t.co/KZbqSFhypo
Anti-American/anti-Israel Prof Mohamed Abdou, recently hired by @Columbia, was invited back to his grad school @Cornell to spew his antisemitic vitriol. At this point, these two universities appear to have a compulsive antisemitic problem. READ https://t.co/HJDoX5pbay https://t.co/rkZkcyicev
A Columbia University task force set up to combat antisemitism on campus in the wake of the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks is attempting to avoid one of the most contentious issues in university debates over the war: the definition of antisemitism. https://t.co/bh2BdOdQCX
Amid severe charges of antisemitism & fed Title VI investigations, @Cornell & @Columbia continue to promote, hire & host events w/pro-Hamas professors, like the recent seminar: "Turtle Island & Palestine: Indigeneity, Settler Colonialism & Genocide. READ https://t.co/HJDoX5oDl0
A Columbia task force set to combat antisemitism won’t define antisemitism https://t.co/i0SpbQ1aw7 https://t.co/i0SpbQ1aw7
Prof Mohamed Abdou, @Columbia's new antisemitic hire, is a featured speaker at a @ColumbiaLaw event, "Queer-Palestinian Solidarity." Abdou believes in the destruction of Israel & America: "I don't think it's practical at all to think in the scope of non-violent terms." READ MORE… https://t.co/Up37kKuCGX
Columbia University rightly resists adopting the @IHRA definition of antisemitism because it is designed to suppress legitimate criticism of Israeli abuses (e.g., Israel's apartheid) which in turn undermines the important fight against antisemitism. https://t.co/C82YkDf9vU
Columbia University will never stop the rampant antisemitism across campus if they can’t even define antisemitism. https://t.co/Y6oPr1P3LK
What Is Antisemitism? A Columbia Task Force Would Rather Not Say. Definitions of the term are highly contested, so a group monitoring antisemitism on Columbia University’s campus has avoided picking sides. It is still facing criticism. https://t.co/FBKaCGCbbM