Columbia University Moves Classes Online as Pro-Palestine Protests Spark Safety Concerns
Columbia University announced classes will be held online as pro-Palestinian protesters sparked safety concerns for the Ivy League’s Jewish student population, according to a statement from Columbia President Minouche Shaifk.
Shafik told both faculty and students to remain off campus and said the school’s preference “is that students who do not live on campus will not come to campus.” The stated goal in removing students and staff from campus is to “deescalate the rancor and give [the school] a chance to consider next steps.”
“Over the past days, there have been too many examples of intimidating and harassing behavior on our campus,” the statement reads, in part. “Antisemitic language, like any other language that is used to hurt and frighten people, is unacceptable and appropriate action will be taken.”
Photos and videos posted online showcase protesters on Columbia’s campus with tent encampments and signs such as, “Welcome to the People’s University for Palestine.” Many students were arrested by the New York Police Department (NYPD), including Rep. Ilhan Omar’s daughter.
The Orthodox Rabbi at Columbia and the university’s sister school, Barnard, sent a WhatsApp message to more than 290 Jewish students encouraging them to remain at home.
“It deeply pains me to say that I would strongly recommend you return home as soon as possible and remain home until the reality in and around campus has dramatically improved,” Rabbi Elie Buecheler said in his message. “It is not our job as Jews to ensure our own safety on campus.”
An assistant professor at Columbia who is also a Jewish man, Shai Davidai, posted to X claiming that the university refused to let him onto campus after the campus was shut down.
“Why? Because they cannot protect my safety as a Jewish professor,” Davidai said. “This is 1938.”
Following the days-long protests at Columbia, Robert Kraft, the owner of the New England Patriots, announced he would no longer donate to Columbia University.
“I am no longer confident that Columbia can protect its students and staff and I am not comfortable supporting the university until corrective action is taken,” Robert Kraft said in a statement. “It is my hope that Columbia and its leadership will stand up to this hate by ending these protests immediately and will stand up to this hate by ending these protests immediately and will work to earn back the respect and trust of the many of us who have lost faith in the institution.”
