Well, that was a rather surprising twist!
And a welcome once, for once, as reported by the New York Post.
“Columbia University students and Jewish advocates called on the Ivy League school Thursday to crack down on the scores of anti-Israel rioters who took part in a violent takeover of a campus library,” the New York Postdetailed.
So, in other words, at this exact same period of time last year, so-called “protestors” got away with terrorizing Jewish students.
This year? Not so much.
“The elite Morningside Heights school has already handed down at least 65 interim suspensions to students who were part of Wednesday’s Butler Library chaos pending further investigation … Another 33 individuals, including those from affiliated institutions, and an unspecified number of alumni were also barred from campus, the official said as Columbia faced pressure to take strong action against the agitators,” the New York Postadded.
And it’s about time that strong action was taken. Especially since quite a few Jewish students have demonstrated a decidedly decreased interest in attending the Ivy League institution in the wake of its pro-Hamas protests.
Joseph Postasnik, who serves as executive vice president of the New York Board of Rabbis, has made it rather clear that “serious consequences” are clearly necessary.
“What happens the day after? We need to see serious consequences,” Postasnik declared.
Without a doubt. Especially as the “protestors” clearly got away with extreme disruption last year.
“This happened during preparation for final exams – they don’t qualify as serious students. There should be harsh consequences – people were assaulted. Columbia needs to come down hard or this activity will happen again and again,” Postasnik asserted.
Absolutely.
And it would appear that the main change needed was a change at the top.
Last year, Columbia University had a “president” from Egypt who pulled in over $5M per year, or more than 10x the salary of the president of the entire country.
This year, Columbia has a new, if temporary, sheriff in town.
According to a report from JNS, Claire Shipman, who is currently the acting president of Columbia University, made it rather evident that antisemitism will not be tolerated under her watch.
“Earlier today, a group of protesters occupied one of the main reading rooms in Butler Library, refusing to leave, and another group breached the front door, causing substantial chaos – all of this as the bulk of our students are working hard to prepare for exams. These actions not only represented a violation of University policies, but they also posed a serious risk to our students and campus safety,” Shipman declared.
Thank you, President Shipman, for much needed clarity regarding the university’s stance on antisemitism.
And then Shipman became even clearer.
“Let me be clear: Columbia unequivocally rejects antisemitism and all other forms of harassment and discrimination … And we certainly reject a group of students – and we don’t yet know whether there were outsiders involved – closing down a library in the middle of the week before finals and forcing 900 students out of their study spaces, many leaving belongings behind,” Shipman added.
Which the “protestors” probably stole.
Fortunately, at least more than one of them has been arrested, with more arrests (hopefully) to come.
In the meantime, a clear standard has been set.
“Columbia unequivocally rejects antisemitism and all other forms of harassment and discrimination,” Shipman asserted.
Hopefully, Ari Shrage, who serves as co-founder of Columbia’s Jewish Alumni Association, will be happier now.
“We are dismayed at the violence, destruction of property and antisemitic acts by protesters yesterday. However, we are thrilled that the school took prompt action to identify the protesters and call in NYPD,” Shrage declared.
And may that prompt action continue …
Author: Jane Jones
