WASHINGTON, D.C. – Columbia University President Minouche Shafik testified before Congress on Wednesday regarding the rise of anti-Semitism on college campuses. During the hearing with the House Education Committee, Shafik initially denied the existence of anti-Jewish protests at Columbia but later acknowledged incidents where anti-Semitic remarks were made.
Representative Elise Stefanik of New York questioned Shafik about chants of “Jews out” on the university’s campus, to which Shafik responded that the protests were labeled as anti-Israeli government rather than specifically anti-Jewish. Stefanik pressed Shafik on whether she agreed that the protests were indeed anti-Jewish, prompting Shafik to admit that anti-Jewish sentiments were expressed during the protests.
Shafik also addressed concerns about the school’s policies, stating that the chant “globalize the intifada” was not deemed unacceptable according to current rules. She assured the committee that efforts would be made to prevent faculty from engaging in discrimination and harassment. Shafik specifically condemned statements made by a Middle Eastern studies professor, Joseph Massad, who praised a terrorist attack on Israel as “awesome” and “astounding.”
Despite the criticism of Massad’s remarks, Shafik confirmed that he remained a member of Columbia’s faculty. She mentioned that Massad had been reprimanded and had not repeated such statements since. Shafik’s testimony shed light on the ongoing challenges universities face in addressing issues of anti-Semitism and ensuring a safe and inclusive environment for all students and faculty.