Anti-Israel Protests Erupt at Barnard College
Recent weeks have seen a surge in anti-Israel protests at Barnard College, a women’s college affiliated with Columbia University, with the latest incident involving the violent takeover of a campus building. These demonstrations were reportedly in response to the expulsion of two students who were accused of disrupting a Columbia University classroom in January by throwing flyers filled with hateful and antisemitic rhetoric. The expelled students allegedly barged into a class taught by Professor Avi Shilon, who recounted the incident to the Times of Israel. Despite the professor’s invitation to join the discussion, the protesters refused and continued shouting, creating a chaotic and intimidating environment. The flyers they distributed contained blatant antisemitic content, further escalate tensions on campus.
Following the expulsion, more than 50 anti-Israel agitators took over a building on Barnard’s campus, echoing a similar incident the previous year at Columbia University’s Hamilton Hall. Shai Davidai, a Columbia associate professor, has been vocal in condemning these actions, pointing to a broader pattern of extremism and hate. In an interview with Fox News Digital, Davidai emphasized that the protests were not isolated incidents but part of a larger, ongoing movement that began on October 12, 2023. He stressed that such behavior does not dissipate on its own, stating, “Hate doesn’t go away on its own. Extremism doesn’t go away on its own. If you don’t deal with it, it stays around.”
Barnard and Columbia’s Historical and Academic Ties
Barnard College and Columbia University share a long-standing relationship, with Barnard becoming part of the Columbia system in 1900 as an all-female counterpart to the then-all-male Columbia. Both institutions continue to share academic resources, and students from both schools can enroll in each other’s classes. This integration has fostered a collaborative learning environment, but it also means that events at one institution can have ripple effects across both campuses. The recent protests at Barnard have drawn attention to the challenges of maintaining academic freedom and fostering civil discourse in such a closely connected academic community.
In response to the January classroom disruption, Columbia’s interim president, Katrina Armstrong, issued a statement condemning the incident, calling it a violation of university rules. She suspended an alleged participant with ties to the university and initiated an investigation. Meanwhile, Barnard President Laura Ann Rosenbury published an op-ed in the Chronicle of Higher Education, titled “When Student Protest Goes Too Far,” where she unequivocally denounced the protesters’ actions as “a calculated act of intimidation” that undermined the college’s mission to promote intellectual exploration and respectful dialogue.
Shai Davidai’s Strong Critique
Shai Davidai has been a vocal critic of the anti-Israel protests on campus, arguing that the root of the problem lies in years of ideological indoctrination by radical faculty members. He believes that these professors have imbued students with extremist views, fostering an environment where hate and intolerance thrive. As he put it, “This is the consequence of 20 years of indoctrination. We have indoctrinated students and they are not the problem. The problem has always been the professors who have been indoctrinating them.”
Davidai also criticized Columbia’s leadership, accusing former president Minouche Shafik of being unaware of the challenges she faced and labeling her a “coward.” He reserved even harsher words for Interim President Armstrong, describing her as “incompetent” and incapable of addressing the growing extremism on campus. In his view, the university’s failure to address these issues has emboldened radical students and faculty, creating a toxic environment for Jewish and non-Jewish students alike.
Student and Parent Reactions
The ongoing protests have not only disrupted academic life but have also taken a toll on students and parents. Jewish and non-Jewish students alike have expressed frustration over the lack of accountability and the seeming tolerance of hate speech on campus. Davidai shared that he has received emails from both students and parents expressing their exasperation, with one parent asking, “What are we paying $90,000 for? So Barnard can go and clean up the mess of the students who got to walk scot-free?” This sentiment reflects a broader disillusionment with the university’s handling of the situation and its failure to ensure a safe and inclusive environment for all students.
Moreover, Davidai highlighted the growing resentment among students who are tired of the constant disruptions and the lack of consequences for those responsible. “They see no accountability, and they’re just sick of it,” he said. This frustration underscores the urgent need for the university to take decisive action to address the root causes of these protests and restore a culture of respect and intellectual freedom.
The Role of Faculty and Leadership
Davidai’s critique extends beyond the protesters to the faculty and university leadership, whom he holds accountable for allowing extremism to take hold. He described an incident in which a radical student intervened in a conversation between him and another faculty member, pulling the colleague away and dictating what they could or could not say. This anecdote illustrates what Davidai sees as a broader issue: the influence of radical students and faculty members who are silencing dissenting voices and intimidating those who dare to speak out against extremism.
Davidai also pointed to the role of faculty members who openly support Hamas and other U.S.-designated terrorist organizations, arguing that their presence on campus normalizes hatred and violence. He contended that such professors should be removed from their positions to create space for educators who prioritize teaching and fostering open dialogue. In his view, this is the only way to restore balance and intellectual integrity to the academic environment.
A Call for Accountability
Despite the challenges, Davidai remains hopeful that Columbia and Barnard can turn things around. He proposed a three-pronged solution: removing professors who indoctrinate students with extremist ideologies, expelling students who openly support violence against Jews and Israelis, and creating an environment where professors can teach and students can learn without fear of intimidation or disruption. By taking these steps, the university can reclaim its mission of fostering intellectual curiosity and civil discourse.
The recent protests and the responses they have elicited highlight the urgent need for accountability and leadership at Columbia and Barnard. As the academic community grapples with these challenges, it remains to be seen whether the institutions will rise to the occasion, addressing the root causes of extremism and restoring their campuses as places of inclusivity, respect, and intellectual freedom.
