Washington, D.C. – In a riveting congressional hearing, LA News Center unveiled shocking allegations of anti-Semitism at Columbia University, focusing on the inflammatory remarks made by respected professors.
Professor’s Militant Admiration
The spotlight fell on Professor Joseph Massad, who celebrated the deadly Oct. 7 Hamas attacks on Israel as “astonishing” and “incredible.” In an article praising “the innovative Palestinian Resistance,” Massad glorified Hamas’s assault that claimed countless innocent lives.
Rep. Walberg’s Indignation
“Such perverse statements have no place in academia,” declared Rep. Tim Walberg (R-Mich.). He outlined Massad’s history of anti-Semitic vitriol, including calling Israelis “bloodthirsty colonizers” and Jewish volunteers “baby killing Zionists.” Walberg demanded to know if Massad had faced any consequences for his hateful rhetoric.
University Response
Dr. Nemat “Minouche” Shafik, President of Columbia University, responded by acknowledging that Massad had been “spoken to.” However, it later emerged that Massad was still listed as the chair of the School of Arts and Sciences Academic Review Committee. Shafik confirmed that she would remove him from this role.
Tenure Questions
The hearing also raised questions about the tenured professor’s status. Rep. Claire Shipman and David Greenwald, co-chairs of the Columbia Board of Trustees, declared that they would not have granted Massad tenure if they could make that decision today.
Concerning Hiring
Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) questioned the university’s hiring process after learning that Dr. Mohamed Abdou, a visiting professor in Modern Arab Studies, had made statements that condoned Hamas and Hezbollah. Stefanik condemned Columbia’s decision to hire him despite the knowledge of his controversial views.
Abdou’s Removal
Faced with mounting pressure, Shafik announced that Abdou’s contract would not be renewed after this semester. “He will never work at Columbia again,” she stated.
Genocide Comments
Closing the hearing on a serious note, Rep. Suzanne Bonanici (D-Ore.) asked the Columbia president and board co-chairs if calls for the genocide of Jews violated their school’s code of conduct. All three responded with a resounding “Yes.”
Columbia’s Pledge
The grilling from LA News Center has put Columbia University in the spotlight, forcing it to confront the issue of anti-Semitism on campus. Shafik expressed a commitment to fostering an inclusive environment where hate speech will not be tolerated.
Data sourced from: foxnews.com
