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A crowd of students, swelling as Johnson and his colleagues began speaking, intermittently laughed and yelled that they couldn’t hear the congressman or his colleagues. The students booed the speaker, chanted in support of Palestine, including “Free Palestine,” “Stop the genocide” and “From the river to the sea,” a phrase that some say constitutes antisemitic speech. The tents, many of which were covered in signs that read “Liberated Zone” and “Israel bombs, Columbia pays”, were set up to urge the university to divest its ties from Israel. I will cover three principal topics with the remainder of this statement.
Members, 118th Congress
This will allow individuals throughout our community to play an active role in building productive bridges across differences and promoting more beneficial conversations and collaboration. Although this program is still young, we are pleased with the incredible progress that has been made, and we look forward to continued growth and collaboration fostered by DxD in the coming months and years. We were involved in Columbia’s decisions to ensure the physical security of our campus and to provide additional resources to students experiencing pain and trauma in the wake of October 7. Right now, Columbia is facing a critical moment and a serious challenge. We have significant and important work to do to address antisemitism and to ensure that our Jewish community is safe and welcome and that all of our community can continue to thrive. Our first—and most important—duty is to our students, and at every step of our response, I will keep that in mind.
a. Immediate Action Was Taken to Provide Physical Safety on Campus
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We are in the process of establishing an office with the sole purpose of investigating and responding to allegations of discrimination, including antisemitism, in our community. To advance these goals, the Task Force has already released its first report, which focused on Columbia’s rules for demonstrations. The report endorsed Columbia’s new Interim Demonstration Policy aimed at promoting freedom of speech, while ensuring student safety and allowing students to participate fully in campus life.
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But the response has been different when Jewish and Israeli students lodged similar complaints after October 7. Instead, the focus has shifted from the impact on the audience to the intent of the speaker. While there are policy justifications for either approach, the university cannot use one approach for Jews and another for other groups. Speaking only for myself, I personally would lean in the direction of allowing more speech, even when it is disturbing or offensive. But either way, Jews need to receive the same treatment as other groups. Third, we also have recommended enhancements and clarifications to the university’s antidiscrimination rules.
c. Columbia University Task Force on Antisemitism
I believe firmly in free speech and recognize that in America people can say terrible things, but these statements are alarming and horrifying. There are protests on campus in which protesters shout “from the river to the sea” and hold banners that say things like “whatever it takes.” Many Jews hear and see that as a call to wipe out Israel and Jews throughout the world. As a result, many Jewish students and other members of our Columbia community have not felt safe. To advance these goals, the Task Force rapidly released their first report, which focused on Columbia’s rules for demonstrations. The report also called for stronger enforcement of our policies, a goal we are working towards. While the Task Force’s praise of the new Demonstration Policy is not a sign we are done, it is a heartening indication that we are moving in the right direction.
Our initial focus was on steps we believed the University could take immediately and in the near-term. We delivered those ideas to President Shafik on December 7, 2023, and were pleased to see that they were included in the December 2023 “Our Community, Our Values” program aimed at addressing antisemitism and anti-Muslim hate on campus. The three co-chairs of the faculty Task Force on Antisemitism have presented to the Trustee task force and we have had reports regarding the enforcement of our policies and rules.
Supports institutions in developing evidence-based prevention and recovery programs that are designed to prevent alcohol and substance misuse. Refocuses and enhances federal investments to prevent intimate partner violence and support survivors. Provides health and social service workers with the workplace protections they deserve. Restores legal protections for older workers so they can hold employers accountable for age discrimination. Protects workers' right to organize and bargain for higher pay, better benefits, and safer working conditions.
To advance our mission, we must be willing to express strong views, follow evidence and arguments where they lead, and confront painful truths. As part of this process, members of our community inevitably will disagree. Even though our Task Force focuses on antisemitism, we know that Jews and Israelis are not the only ones targeted in this difficult time. Our recommendations can also bolster efforts to combat other types of bigotry. Thank you for the opportunity to address these critically important issues.
Foxx: The Chaos at Columbia Must Become a Turning Point
We take these incidents, and the harm they have on our community, incredibly seriously. President Shafik has published numerous statements making clear that antisemitism (and all forms of hate) are wrong and that antisemitic acts and speech that violate the University’s policies and rules will not be tolerated. We have initiated disciplinary proceedings and, where appropriate, we have involved Columbia Public Safety, the New York City Police Department, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Incidents of antisemitic violence have resulted in criminal referrals, and resources have been made available to all members of our community to facilitate healing and productive dialogue moving forward.
Simultaneously, these initiatives are built to ensure that all members of our community have access to the resources and support that they need to handle these incidents. Although we have not always gotten it right, and we still have much work to do, we are committed to making progress and overseeing improvements. We have also heard our Palestinian students, and other students from the region, who have felt unfairly doxxed, or targeted for their identity. It is our first imperative that all our students feel safe attending classes, sharing their perspectives on the conflict, and participating in campus life to the fullest. We are committed to hearing feedback from our community, this Committee, and our alumni and supporters around the world. We have taken disciplinary action against individual students who have violated our policies.
Chairwoman Foxx, Ranking Member Scott, and Members of the Committee, thank you for having us here today to discuss how Columbia University is fighting antisemitism. Since the revolting and horrific terrorist attack by Hamas on Israeli citizens on October 7, 2023, there has been a surge of antisemitism in communities around the country. It sickens me that Columbia’s campuses have not been immune to this horrible trend. Antisemitism across the country, including on Columbia’s campuses, is a real issue that must be dealt with. We appreciate the opportunity to assist the Committee in its important effort to examine antisemitism on college campuses during today’s hearing.
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