Columbia University president grilled at US congressional antisemitism hearing

By Zehra Nur Duz

The leader of a prominent US university engaged in heated exchanges with congressional members during a hearing about an increase in hostile incidents against anti-war protesters on campus amid Israel’s war in Gaza.

Rep. Ilhan Omar from the state of Minnesota, questioned Columbia University President Minouche Shafik on Wednesday about protests on campus and the broader hostile environment faced by students.

The Muslim congresswoman highlighted recent attacks on the rights of students at Colombia as well as a rise in targeting and harassment against anti-war protesters.

She was “appalled” to learn that Columbia suspended and evicted six students for their involvement in a pro-Palestinian discussion on campus in April.

“It happened that all six students were arbitrarily targeted after the university brought in a team of private and former police investigators,” Omar noted.

The investigators harassed and intimidated Palestinian students at their homes -- demanding to see private text messages and sending threatening emails to the leaders of pro-Palestinian groups, according to Omar.

The lawmaker accused the university’s administration of utilizing private former police investigators -- which was confirmed by Shafik.

“We had students who invited people who are inciting violence, and that is unacceptable. And so, we needed to get to the bottom of it. And so that's why we brought private investigators,” said Shafik.

Omar cited an incident in January involving students who were attacked with a toxic chemical substance while protesting, leaving many hospitalized. She said that a lot did not get support from the school administrators after the attacks.

Shafik denied the claim, and said: “We did reach out to all of those students who said they were affected, many of them didn't want support.”

Omar also underlined that there has been a lot of doxxing -- exposure of private information, especially online -- and harassment on campus.

Asked what protections are being provided for students, Shafik said the administration created a doxxing resources group to support students.

“There were many students who were affected by this -- Muslim students, Jewish students and completely -- you know, other students,” Shafik said, adding that the school had 90 students reach out to the doxxing group to get technical and legal support.

Omar also criticized professors at Columbia who harass students online, including Shai Davidai, a business professor.

“We've had more than 50 complaints about that professor, and he's currently under investigation for harassment,” Shafik said in response.