Columbia University Professor Criticizes Pro-Hamas Groups, Condemns President’s Inaction
In a fiery speech delivered during a campus vigil, a Columbia University professor, Shai Davidai, publicly slammed pro-Hamas student groups and criticized the university’s president, Minouche Shafik, for her lack of response to anti-Israel protests on campus. Davidai, an Israeli-American assistant professor, expressed his frustration at the university’s failure to forcefully condemn these groups.
Addressing President Shafik directly, Davidai declared, President Minouche Shafik of Columbia University, you are a coward. He called on her to take action and remove the so-called pro-terror student organizations from campus. Davidai expressed concern for the safety of Jewish students, stating that he would never send his own daughter to Columbia University due to the presence of these groups.
The assistant professor emphasized the need for a safe and inclusive campus environment, expressing his own feelings of fear and devaluation. I’m speaking up because I walked onto my own campus…and I was shivering, he said. Davidai pointedly criticized President Shafik for allowing pro-terrorist organizations to march on campus, a decision he believes compromises the safety and well-being of the university community.
In response to the criticism, President Shafik released multiple statements acknowledging the terror attacks on Israel and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. She also condemned the abhorrent rhetoric aimed at certain Columbia University students and staff members in relation to the Israel-Hamas conflict. The university has implemented increased security measures, including limiting access to campus in the aftermath of the Hamas attack and the assault on an Israeli student who displayed flyers of Israeli citizens taken hostage by Hamas.
The tensions at Columbia University have not only affected the campus community but also strained relations with alumni and employers. Prestigious law firm Davis Polk decided to retract employment offers from Columbia students who had signed an anti-Israel statement, further highlighting the divide on campus.
As the university grapples with a climate of unrest and differing perspectives, the call for a balanced approach and productive dialogue is gaining momentum. It remains to be seen how Columbia University will address the concerns raised by individuals like Professor Shai Davidai and strive towards fostering an environment that ensures the safety and inclusivity of all its students and faculty members.
