This doesn’t sit right.
Columbia University drew sharp criticism for offering a tomato-based “October 7 Blush Sauce” on the anniversary of the Hamas terrorist attacks. Many argued that it seemed to glorify the tragedy.
The sauce appeared on the menu at the pasta station in John Jay Dining Hall, alongside other options like marinara, turkey bolognese, and garlic oil. Interestingly, the other sauces weren’t labeled with any reference to that date.
Photos of the menu were shared on social media by a correspondent for Israeli outlet Haaretz, triggering a widespread backlash.
One shocked critic asked, “So they’re symbolically serving up the blood of October 7th victims?”
Another questioned whether the blush sauce was, in fact, a celebration of the bloodshed from that day, expressing that it was “extremely poor taste.”
Many demanded that the individual who created the menu face repercussions, with some going so far as to call for the university to be “defunded.”
Following the uproar, a manager at Columbia Dining quickly took down the signage and the university issued an apology for what they termed an “unfortunate mistake.”
In a statement on social media, Columbia clarified, “This was a mistake, not a reference to the events of October 7.”
They explained that the date had been inadvertently included when the meal information was copied into the menu template.
As soon as the error was noticed, the signs were removed, and the administration expressed regret for any confusion caused.
However, the apology did little to quell the outrage online.
One woman expressed her frustration, suggesting that simply stating it was an accident felt insulting and that perhaps they should have claimed a rogue employee was responsible, apologized, and assured this wouldn’t recur.
In a related event, over 70 anti-Israel demonstrators protested against Israel’s responses to the attacks, organized by the Students for Justice in Palestine group, as reported by Columbia Spectator.
Protesters, wearing keffiyehs, called for “intifada” and directed slurs at the NYPD, labeling the officers as “pigs,” according to the Times of Israel.
This demonstration took place even though the student group had been suspended since 2023.
Earlier that day, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani issued a statement marking the anniversary of the Hamas attacks, largely criticizing Israel for “war crimes” amid what he termed an “ongoing genocide,” igniting anger among Jewish advocates who felt he was misusing the tragedy.
