E&W Blog

Since the barbaric attack on October 7, antisemitism—verging on support for Hamas terrorism—has been pervasive at Columbia, and university administrators have been left paralyzed in response.

In her opening statement, Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC) criticized the implications of taxpayer funds to these feckless administrators and odious institutions. "That a taxpayer funded institution would become a forum for the promotion of terrorism raises serious questions... Antisemitism must have no safe harbor in American universities," she said.

Then, for nearly four hours, the Committee focused with laser-like sharpness on specific instances of antisemitism, demanded accountability, and left President Shafik backpedaling while trying to defend her record.

Chairwoman Foxx questioned President Shafik on the weakness of Columbia’s response to antisemitism. In her closing remarks, Chairwoman Foxx noted that key points from President Shafik’s testimony were misleading based on the documents and information Columbia has provided the Committee.

While President Shafik testified that Columbia had suspended 15 students in response to the wave of antisemitism, Chairwoman Foxx noted that Columbia suspended only three students for antisemitic incidents between October 7 and March 23, and all three suspensions were lifted or downgraded to probation. Of the 10 students suspended in response to the March 24 Resistance 101 event, five have had their suspensions lifted because Columbia determined they were not involved.

In response to questions by Democrat Members about a purported attack with a “toxic chemical substance” by Jewish students, President Shafik’s testimony gave false credence to this narrative, testifying that several Jewish students had released an “odorous substance.” Chairwoman Foxx noted that documents Columbia produced to the Committee indicate that the substance sprayed was a non-toxic gag spray – conduct that was inappropriate but far different than the false accusations used to vilify Jewish students.

Rep. Tim Walberg (R-MI) discussed the tenure of Professor Joseph Massad, who characterized the events of October 7 as “awesome” and a “stunning victory.” Rep. Walberg asked, “Do you stand behind Professor Massad remaining Chair of the Academic Review Committee given his support for terrorism and the harassment of Jewish students?”

President Shafik responded, “I believe, to answer your question, he is no longer Chair of that Committee.”

That testimony may have been acceptable, even laudable … had it been true. Rather, according to the university website, no such firing has occurred. Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) was quick to point out this fact. President Shafik appeared uncertain whether he had been removed but committed that he would be.

Next, Rep. Lisa McClain (R-MI) asked, “Are mobs shouting ‘From the River to the Sea, Palestine will be Free’ or ‘Long Live the Intifada?’ Are those antisemitic comments?”

President Shafik gave a non-answer, replying, “When I hear those terms, I find them very upsetting.”

Rep. McClain then turned to Professor David Schizer, head of Columbia’s Task Force on Antisemitism. He responded immediately, emphatically, and unequivocally, “Yes.” The contrast in the two answers, one given by the university president and one by a Jewish professor, was stark.

Each false answer, non-answer, or otherwise inadequate one was felt most by the Jewish Columbia students in attendance. One student, Eden Yadegar, told the Committee at a February roundtable: “At Columbia University, the Jewish community is alone. We are ostracized, mocked, harassed, assaulted, and scapegoated, simply because of our identities.”

Rep. Aaron Bean (R-FL) spoke directly to such experiences of Jewish students every day on campus. Calling on previous discussions with these students, he said, “Security on campus told them remove anything that identifies you as Jewish when things get hot.”