By Mark Gray
8:00am PDT, Apr 30, 2024
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Amid tense pro-Palestine protests on campus, Columbia University has transitioned to a mostly hybrid schedule that has students taking classes online through the end of the semester amid unrest.
The protests and the behavior of some students — and some faculty members — are having other repercussions too: On April 22, New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, a former Columbia student and a major donor to the university, pulled his financial support for his alma mater over the treatment of Jewish students.
In a statement via his Foundation to Combat Antisemitism, the billionaire said, "It was through the full academic scholarship Columbia gave me that I was able to attend college and get my start in life and for that I have been tremendously grateful. However, the school I love so much – the one that welcomed me and provided me with so much opportunity – is no longer an institution I recognize."
"I am deeply saddened at the virulent hate that continues to grow on campus and throughout our country. 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," the statement continued.
"It is my hope that Columbia and its leadership will stand up to this hate by ending these protests immediately and will work to earn back the respect and trust of many of us who have lost faith in the institution. It is my hope that in this difficult time, the Kraft Center at Columbia will serve as a source of security and safety for all Jewish students and faculty on campus who want to gather peacefully to practice their religions, to be together and to be welcomed," the statement concluded.
Read on to see what others in politics and in pop culture are saying about the situation at Columbia…
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"To the students at @Columbia, and any other students at colleges across the United States, blocking Jewish kids from entering the school to go to class: You're supposed to be smart. You're blaming your 18 year old classmates from the US for the actions of the government of Israel? What the hell are you being taught? Think logically and quit being sheep and being used by your professors." –Jon Lovitz
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"Amid anti-Israel protests, Jewish students at Columbia University don't feel safe. It's become so dangerous that students were forced out of the classroom. Let's be clear: these are not peaceful protests, these are antisemitic mobs." —House Speaker Mike Johnson
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"We all remember the horrific scenes in Charlottesville 7 years ago of neo-Nazis chanting 'Jews will not replace us.' The Columbia students shouting 'Go back to Poland!' and 'burn Tel Aviv to the ground' share the same hateful message: Jews are not welcome." —Rep. Jared Moskowitz
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"It's an embarrassment. If these people were screaming at any other group of people this would be taken care of… These are bullies. These are cowards. These are pathetic, low-life scumbags. It's embarrassing. But agenda number 1 is to free our hostages. Agenda number 1-A is to eradicate Hamas." —Michael Rapaport
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"If Columbia students are chanting, 'we are Hamas,' they should move to Gaza." —Sen. Marsha Blackburn
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While promoting the United For Israel March at Columbia on April 25, Patricia Heaton wrote on X, "Friends, here is an opportunity to stand up for humanity, for decency, for democracy, for Judeo-Christian values, for Israel, for America, for Western civilization."
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"The anti-Semitic violence and intimidation occurring on our nation's college campuses like Columbia and NYU is DISGRACEFUL." —Rep. Byron Donalds
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"Every single one of these college and university presidents who refused to take action should immediately resign in disgrace, and if they don't resign — their a**** should be thrown out! I have never seen a more disgraceful act than what we are seeing on college campuses right now." —Rep. Mike Lawler
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"As anti-Israel mobs swarm @Columbia calling for violence against Jews, its Board has a choice: 1) Force leadership to condemn this hate and protect Jewish students, or be removed. 2) Remain silent and watch Congress strip all federal funding." –Sen. Rick Scott
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"Instead of clearing out the antisemitic mob, @Columbia is moving classes online through the rest of the year. This cowardly move caters to pro-Hamas activists while doing nothing to protect Jewish students. President Shafik needs to step down today." –Rep. Burgess Owens
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"Joe Biden has a duty to protect Jewish students on campuses like Columbia and NYU from what are nascent pogroms." –Sen. Tom Cotton
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"Antisemitic hate on college campuses is unacceptable. I am deeply concerned by what is happening at Columbia University. In November 2023, our Office for Civil Rights opened an investigation of Columbia involving Title VI. While we can't comment on pending investigations, every student deserves to feel a sense of safety and belonging at school. Hate has no place in our schools. All education leaders must stand definitively against hate, antisemitism, anti-Arab, and anti-Muslim sentiment. Universities are at their best when they promote the respectful exchange of diverse views and constructive debate. Our Office for Civil Rights interprets the civil rights laws we enforce consistent with free speech and other rights protected under the First Amendment. But we won't tolerate hate or harassment that targets students because of who they are or who they're perceived to be." —U.S. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona
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"At @Columbia, we are seeing students call for the murder of their Jewish classmates and express support for Hamas. Freedom of speech does NOT give anyone the right to harass or threaten others. Condemnation of these Hamas sympathizers is NOT enough. It's time to expel them." –Rep. Pete Stauber
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"Jewish students on @Columbia's campus are being targeted and harassed. And, we won't stand for it." –Rep. Josh Gottheimer
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"How are news outlets dedicating wall-to-wall coverage to campus protests, but not the discovery of mass graves in Gaza of people with their hands tied & clothing stripped? Why do we not know more? Where are the journalists and resources being dedicated to that story?" —Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
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".@Columbia's leadership has allowed an antisemitic mob to illegally take control of the school and the president announced the cancellation of all in-person classes through the end of semester. This is a disgrace and shows a fundamental lack of leadership from the president and the board of trustees. These dens of antisemitic hate need to be defunded." —Rep. Elise Stefanik
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"Yesterday I went to Columbia University to show my support for the Jewish students who have faced harassment, intimidation and vicious antisemitic attacks on campus. I fully support the right of students to exercise free speech and peacefully assemble. The events in Israel and Gaza are a tragedy. These tragedies demand public mourning and sorrow, and are a legitimate topic for political dissent and debate. However, hate speech that incites violence has no place in America. Antisemitism, and ALL forms of hate, are absolutely unacceptable. Our college campuses should be a safe place for students to learn, not a breeding ground for hatred." —Rep. Tom Suozzi
