Columbia president holds her own under congressional grilling over campus antisemitism that felled the leaders of Harvard and Penn
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Thursday, April 18, 2024
Two of them resigned shortly thereafter.
Key Points:
- Two of them resigned shortly thereafter.
- Here, Lynn Greenky, a scholar of communication and rhetoric, gives her take on how Shafik handled being in the same hot seat as her colleagues.
How did today’s hearing differ from the one on Dec. 5?
- Of course, they had the benefit of being able to first see what happens when you don’t.
- Shipman in particular made it clear that Columbia is suffering a “moral crisis” on its campus.
- They even thanked the committee for the investigation and asked for the committee’s help to address antisemitism on campus.
What did committee members say about faculty?
- Several members of the Congressional committee singled out Massad, who on Oct. 8, 2023, described the Hamas attack on Israel as “awesome” and “innovative” in an online article, for particular scorn.
- The committee’s chairperson, Virginia Foxx, a Republican from West Virginia, warned that radical faculty remain a huge problem at Columbia.
- If not, she says, Columbia will be brought before the committee again.
Was there any conflict over what is hate speech?
- Shafik seemed reluctant to label students or faculty as engaging in hate and harassment.
- She tried very hard, sometimes unsuccessfully, to assert the need to balance constitutionally protected speech with the educational mission of the university.
- Still, Shafik frequently testified that the policies and structures in place at Columbia prior to the Oct. 7 attack were inadequate.
What action did Shafik and her colleagues say they would take?
- They said they are working on revising policies and practices that will promote vigorous debate while protecting student safety.
- As a result of some of the preliminary recommendations of Columbia’s Task Force on Antisemitism, the university has updated the reporting and response process regarding harassment and discrimination.
How will all this affect free speech on campus?
- Certainly, a college or university has a compelling interest in protecting its students, faculty and staff’s freedom, safety and integrity.
- Often, when colleges and universities undertake the task, I believe it is the freedom to speak one’s mind that suffers.
Lynn Greenky does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.