All New York GOP members of Congress have demanded that Columbia University’s president resign immediately for failing to enforce the school’s policies and protect Jewish students as anti-Israel demonstrations escalated at the Ivy League school.
“As the leader of this institution, one of your chief objectives, morally and under law, is to ensure students have a safe learning environment. By every measure, you have failed this obligation,” the lawmakers wrote. “The situation unfolding on campus right now is a direct product of your policies and misguided decisions.”
“What we are witnessing in and around campus is terrible and tragic. The events of the last few days, especially last night, have made it clear that Columbia University’s Public Safety and the NYPD cannot guarantee Jewish students’ safety in the face of extreme anti-Semitism and anarchy,” Rabbi Elie Buechler wrote to students in Yavneh, the Orthodox student community.
During the hearing, the House Committee on Education and the Workforce accused Ms. Shafik of failing to protect Jewish students on campus. Ms. Shafik responded that the university faced a “moral crisis” because of anti-Semitism on campus. She also told lawmakers that Columbia University had taken decisive measures against suspected perpetrators.
In the letter, the lawmakers blamed Ms. Shafik for her weak enforcement of school policies that allow agitators to go unchecked. “While the rot is systemic, the responsibility rests squarely on your shoulders,” the lawmakers said. “It is time for Columbia University to turn the page on this shameful chapter. This can only be done through the restoration of order and your prompt resignation.”
President Biden also issued a statement condemning the situation in a message for Passover, a Jewish holiday that starts on April 22.
In the statement, the president spoke out against an “alarming surge of anti-Semitism” in U.S. schools, communities, and online. However, he did not specifically mention incidents at Columbia University. “This blatant anti-Semitism is reprehensible and dangerous—and it has absolutely no place on college campuses or anywhere in our country,” the president said.
“My administration will continue to speak out and aggressively implement the first-ever National Strategy to Counter Anti-Semitism, putting the full force of the federal government behind protecting the Jewish community,” he added.
On April 16, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) reported 8,873 incidents of anti-Semitism in the United States in 2023, marking a 140 percent increase. The figure represents the highest level recorded since the ADL began collecting data in 1979.
