Adams calls for Columbia to make Mamdani’s admission records public

Mayor Requests Admission Records of Zoran Mamdani

New York City Mayor Eric Adams has asked Columbia University to release the admission records of Zoran Mamdani.

Mamdani, a 33-year-old Muslim immigrant from Uganda, is a key figure in the current mayoral race. He applied to Columbia in 2009, identifying himself as “Asian” and “African American,” as he mentioned in an interview with the New York Times.

At that time, Mamdani had not yet become a U.S. citizen; he was naturalized in 2018 and now holds dual citizenship in the U.S. and Uganda, according to reports.

In parts of his application, he discussed his Ugandan heritage, though, ultimately, his explanation was denied.

Adams has criticized Mamdani for his choices, expressing concerns over the implications of misrepresenting one’s identity and reinforcing a narrative that undermines students who enter universities through authentic channels.

“African American identity is not just a checkbox. It’s bound in history, struggle, and lived experiences. Exploiting this for personal gain is incredibly offensive,” Adams stated.

The campaign escalated its accusations, suggesting that Mamdani may have displaced a deserving African American applicant.

“It appears that Zohran Mamdani misrepresented his racial background to gain admission to Columbia University. He wasn’t even a U.S. citizen at that point. This could very well be a scam,” Adams continued.

“We need clarifications because New Yorkers deserve to know if the individual seeking their vote has built his career on questionable foundations.”

The controversy surrounding Mamdani’s application has deepened, especially after reports surfaced claiming that a group known as “Hattivists” stole sensitive information from over 2 million university members, which included admission applications.

As a response, the Adams Campaign has urged the university to investigate whether Mamdani violated policies and if his non-citizen status played a role in his admission.

Interestingly, Mamdani’s father, Mahmoud Mamdani, is a professor at Columbia, specializing in anthropology, political science, and African studies, and has been part of the faculty since 1999.

In a recent survey, Mamdani appears to be a leading candidate in the upcoming general election, with indications that he has garnered 35% of voter support. Former Governor Andrew Cuomo is close behind at 29%, while Republican Curtis Sliwa has 16%, and independent candidate Jim Walden sits at 1%, with Adams receiving 14%.