Columbia University has reportedly banned an Israeli-born Jewish professor from the Ivy League’s main campus, which is occupied by pro-Hamas students. new york post report.
Shai Davidai, an assistant professor at Columbia Business School and an Israel supporter, called for “peaceful sit-ins in Colombia’s declared ‘liberated zones'” Monday morning as protests continued at New York University.
Anti-Israel students have set up camp on the campus’ central lawn, raising Palestinian flags and holding protest signs on tents.by new york timesthe area is referred to by some as the “Gaza Solidarity Encampment.”
When Davidai arrived on campus Monday morning for a planned peaceful protest, he discovered that his student ID had been deactivated.
In a video posted on social media, Davidai yelled at pro-Israel students: I’m on campus. ”
“They deactivated my card,” he added. “They won’t let me into the main campus.”
Davidai pointed out the “irony” that his card allows him access to Columbia University’s Manhattanville campus, where he still teaches.
“I was just told, [administrators] that’s me [to be] Let me go to the business school campus where I teach tomorrow,” the Post reported. “So they’re willing to use Jewish brainpower, but they don’t want to accept Jews.”
Davidai explained in a post on
He accused the university of continuing to shelter pro-Hamas protesters who allowed them to occupy the campus.
“We know who they can keep safe. For the past five days, they’ve been keeping students safe who are calling on Hamas to target Jewish students. That’s what they’re ensuring. It’s about safety,” Davidai said.
He urged Jewish and pro-Israel students to be careful around protesters and to take videos of the encampment.
“If they won’t let you on campus, document the fact that they won’t let any other Jews on campus,” he said.
Colombian President Minouche Shafik testified in front of the House of Commons earlier this week. She told lawmakers that she had received several complaints about Davidai and that the university had opened an investigation against the professor.
Davidei called for Shafik’s removal and for “all members of Columbia University’s Anti-Semitism Task Force to resign immediately.”
Last week, pro-Palestinian students occupied the campus and refused to leave until the university complied with a list of demands, including ending funding from companies with ties to Israel, the Times reported.
Shafik called the police Remove protesters. More than 100 people were arrested.
On Monday, the university announced it was canceling in-person classes and switching to remote classes in response to the riot.
“We are deeply saddened by what is happening on our campus. Our bonds as a community are being severely tested in ways that will take significant time and effort to reaffirm. Our various communities students have communicated their concerns for their safety, and we have announced additional steps we are taking to address their safety concerns,” Shafiq wrote on Monday. statement.
She argued that the school needs a “reset” due to rising tensions that have been “exploited and amplified by individuals who are not affiliated with Columbia and have come to campus to pursue their own agendas.” .
“To quell resentment and give us all a chance to consider next steps, we are announcing that all classes will be held virtually on Monday. Faculty and staff who can work remotely should do so.” she added. “Our hope is that students who do not live on campus will not come to campus.”
“We know there is a lot of debate about whether we should use police on campus, and we are happy to participate in that discussion,” Shafiq continued. “There have been too many instances of threatening and harassing behavior on our campus in recent days. Anti-Semitic language, like any language used to hurt or scare people, is unacceptable. We encourage those affected to report these incidents through university channels.”
Additional camps have sprung up at Yale University, the University of Michigan, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to support protesters arrested at Columbia University.
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