Columbia University Launches Inquiry into Students Voicing Criticism of Israel: What You Need to Know

Maryam Alwan, a senior at Columbia University, was visiting family in Jordan when she received troubling news. She got an email from the university accusing her of harassment over an op-ed she wrote. This piece called for divestment from Israel and sparked multiple investigations by a new committee focused on student conduct.

This committee, called the Office of Institutional Equity, has been actively identifying students who voiced opinions critical of Israel. They’ve sent notifications to numerous students for various actions, like sharing social media posts in support of Palestinians or participating in unsanctioned protests. For example, one student is under scrutiny for putting up faux “Wanted” posters of university trustees, while another, who leads a literary club, is facing repercussions for co-hosting an art exhibition about the occupation of a campus building.

In Alwan’s case, the committee suggested that her op-ed might have created “unwelcome conduct” for some students based on religion or nationality. Alwan, a Palestinian-American studying comparative studies, expressed her frustration at being labeled discriminatory for discussing Palestine. “It felt dystopian,” she said, noting that it made her hesitant to share her views in the future.

The potential consequences for students found in violation range from simple warnings to expulsion. This new disciplinary focus has raised concerns among students, faculty, and free speech advocates. Many believe the university is responding to external pressures, particularly from political leaders who threaten to cut funding for schools perceived as not doing enough to protect Jewish students.

Recently, federal agencies hinted they might cut about $51 million in contracts to Columbia due to what they called the university’s failure to address harassment against Jewish students. In response, Columbia stated that promoting violence or terror has no place on campus.

Meanwhile, House Republicans are reviewing Columbia’s disciplinary processes and pushed for the release of records related to student disciplinary incidents. The university has not disclosed how much information it has shared with Congress.

This disciplinary committee was created last summer. Under its guidelines, criticism of international policies can be considered harassment, particularly if it includes discriminatory remarks about individuals linked to those countries. They’ve indicated that even certain phrases might be interpreted as crossing a line.

Interestingly, some Jewish students have joined pro-Palestinian protests. Yet many express that the language used has sometimes veered into antisemitism, claiming that the school hasn’t done enough to maintain a welcoming environment.

One significant issue is that the committee’s operations have remained cloaked in secrecy. Students seeking to understand their rights must sign non-disclosure agreements to access case materials or speak with investigators. Some students who spoke to the press reported being wrongfully accused of actions they did not commit.

Mahmoud Khalil, a graduate student, found himself facing multiple allegations just before graduation. He claimed he was tied to social media posts he didn’t create. When he refused to sign the non-disclosure agreement, the university placed a hold on his academic record. Eventually, after legal intervention, they lifted the hold. Khalil believes the committee’s intentions are primarily to demonstrate compliance to political pressures, stifling pro-Palestinian discourse in the process.

Interestingly, this pushback might be rallying the pro-Palestinian movement on campus. Recently, students occupied buildings at Barnard College, a Columbia affiliate, in protest of the expulsion of classmates accused of disrupting an Israeli history class. Tensions are high, and it seems the dialogue around these issues is far from over.

Source link

Education,News Desk,overnight,wire