Key insights from the Columbia University president's remarks on combating antisemitism

For almost four hours, a different Ivy League school president was questioned by Congress about antisemitism at their university.

Columbia University President Minouche Shafik attempted to steer clear of the controversy that led to the resignation of two out of the three university presidents who appeared before Congress in December.

Shafik, who was traveling during that last hearing, had the advantage of time to avoid some, though not all, of the landmines.

Here are three takeaways from today’s hearing.

Shafik was more ready for a question that stumped the leaders of Harvard, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and the University of Pennsylvania in December. The question was about whether advocating for the genocide of Jews goes against university policies.

While the other university presidents gave responses that sounded like they were written by lawyers and became popular online, Shafik and her three colleagues from Columbia were clear in saying that making such calls would break Columbia's code of conduct.

But when it came to certain details, Shafik hesitated and had trouble providing direct answers, which gave her critics a lot to talk about.

The Columbia president was questioned by Rep. Lisa McClain about whether chants like "from the river to the sea" or "long live the intifada" are considered antisemitic. Initially, Shafik stated that she is offended by such comments.

Shafik was asked by McClain if the chants were antisemitic. His response was, "I hear them as such. Some people don’t."

It was only when David Schizer, the co-chair of Columbia’s task force on antisemitism, stated that it would qualify as antisemitism, that Shafik agreed.

Professors face consequences

A similar situation played out when it comes to disciplining professors.

Shafik made it clear during the hearing that there will be consequences for faculty members who make antisemitic remarks that cross the line.

He mentioned that tenured professor Joseph Massad, who described the October 7 attacks as "awesome" in an online piece, has already been addressed by members of his department.

Shafik initially backtracked on her statement regarding his removal as chair of an academic committee, but she did confirm that he is being investigated for discriminatory remarks. In response to a question from Rep. Tim Walberg, Shafik expressed her condemnation of his statement and stated that she was appalled by what he said. She also mentioned that he has been spoken to.

In an email to CNN, Massad clarified that his term as chairman of the committee was ending after one year, and he was not aware of any investigation before today's hearing.

Shafik mentioned that a professor, Mohamed Abdou, who showed support for Hamas on social media after October 7, is currently grading papers for his students. However, Shafik assured that Abdou will not be teaching at Columbia in the future, and this incident will be noted on his record.

Shafik reported that an investigation is being conducted on Columbia Business School assistant professor Shai Davidai for harassment.

During a passionate speech last year, Davidai referred to Shafik as a "coward" while criticizing the university president for not addressing "pro-terror" voices at the school.

Shafik revealed that the professor in question has received over 50 complaints. Columbia University has confirmed that Davidai is currently being investigated.

Davidai clarified to CNN that he has never targeted individual students, but rather has criticized "pro-Hamas" student groups and faculty members.

"They're looking into me because of the main reason this hearing happened in the first place. Columbia is looking into me solely for my social media posts," he explained.

Abdou did not reply right away when asked for a comment.

More effort is required from Columbia students, especially those who participated in the hearing, protested outside the hearing, and addressed the media at a press conference before the event.

During a press conference, undergraduate student Eden Yadegar accused Columbia leaders of not taking action against antisemitism on campus. She mentioned incidents of harassment, intimidation, and threats of physical violence affecting every aspect of campus life.

At the hearing, Shafik emphasized that Columbia officials have a zero tolerance policy towards antisemitic threats, images, and any other violations.

Shafik admitted that there is still more work for Columbia officials to do in balancing free speech protection and ensuring student safety. This information was contributed by CNN's Elisabeth Buchwald.

Editor's P/S:

The hearing highlights the complex and often contentious issue of antisemitism on college campuses. While Columbia University President Minouche Shafik demonstrated a more prepared and nuanced response than her predecessors, her hesitation and lack of direct answers on certain questions raised concerns among critics. The investigation into tenured professor Joseph Massad's antisemitic remarks and the suspension of Mohamed Abdou from teaching demonstrate Columbia's commitment to addressing antisemitism, but further efforts are needed to balance free speech protection with ensuring student safety.

The testimony of undergraduate student Eden Yadegar underscores the urgent need for Columbia to address the pervasive antisemitism experienced by Jewish students on campus. Shafik's acknowledgment of ongoing work in this area is encouraging, but more concrete actions are necessary to create a truly inclusive and safe environment for all students. As the article suggests, the ongoing investigation into assistant professor Shai Davidai for harassment further highlights the complexities of addressing antisemitism in the context of academic freedom.