The President of Columbia University spoke in a House Education Committee hearing this morning to discuss the university’s response to anti-Semitic incidents.
Nemat Shafik, President of the University, was joined by a law professor and two trustees.
Shafik: trying to reconcile the free speech rights of those who wanted to protest and the rights of Jewish students to be in an environment free of discrimination and harassment has been the central challenge on our campus and numerous others across the country.
In fact, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) reports that more than 70% of Jewish college students say they experienced or witnessed some form of anti-Semitism since the beginning of the fall of last year.
Similarly, the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR), reports more than a 55% jump in reports in anti-Muslim bias. That’s according to a National survey they did in 2023.
And now USC finds itself in the hot seat after growing tensions between Jewish and Arab/Muslim students, which begun after the October 7th Hamas attack on Israel. Earlier this week, the Office of the Provost sent out an email announcing that Asna Tabassum, this year’s valedictorian, will not be speaking at graduation.
It says it’s decision was quote “necessary to maintain the safety of our campus and students.” However, many students and faculty expressed outrage and feel like Tabassum, a pro-Palestine Muslim student, is being silenced by the university.
Blair: Asna was chosen among 1000s to be a voice for the valedictory address, and rightfully so. And we should give her the I don’t know the benefit of the doubt that the message that she’s going to deliver as an adult will be a message of responsibility and of hope.
Professor Brent Blair, a Professor of Practice at the School of Dramatic Arts, stood at the heart of the USC campus earlier today holding a sign that read ‘Jewish Faculty in Support of Asna Tabassum. Let Her Speak.’
Blair says that Tabassum has the power and right to, quote “speak to people’s hearts.”
Blair: I love Dr. Folt. I love this university. And I’m heartbroken that we’re choosing this course of silencing and censorship, still in 2024.
In a written statement from USC Chabad Jewish Center, they expressed the valedictorian selection caused distress for students in the university’s Jewish community. That’s because of a link in Tabassum’s social media profile calling for the abolishment of the state of Israel.
In a written statement to Annenberg Radio about changes since the university’s announcement, Rachael Cohen of USC Hillel, a Jewish enrichment center, said, in part, “our USC Jewish community and many of our students have experienced a surge in antisemitism and hate expressed on campus, in the classroom and online.”
Professor Dan Lainer-Vos, Assistant Professor of Sociology, feels as though USC should do more to foster dialogue and that sometimes, free speech can make people uncomfortable but should still be protected.
Lainer-Vos: I think it may be a little naive, but I was hoping that maybe there’ll be an opportunity to create forums where people will speak to each other in a respectful way without shouting at each other and blaming each other in kind of all over the place
In a statement released on Monday, Tabassum says she feels “abandoned” by USC, saying that “anti-Muslim and anti-Palestinian voices have subjected me to a campaign of racist hatred because of my uncompromising belief in human rights for all.”
Now, some students are questioning whether they’ll attend the graduation ceremony this year.
For Annenberg Media, I’m Tamara Almoayed.