Columbia leaders face scrutiny from lawmakers on campus antisemitism

By Susan Svrluga, The Washington PostNemat “Minouche” Shafik, president of Columbia University, left, testifies at a House Committee on Education and the Workforce hearing Wednesday on Capitol Hill in Washington.

But many of the members of Congress expressed incredulity and disdain as they read statements made by faculty members, and cut university leaders off as they tried to respond. What had been a policy discussion in higher education abruptly became part of the popular conversation, he said — complete with a “Saturday Night Live” skit mocking the presidents. People debated free speech on campus and the political context, with questions about whether colleges are excessively left-leaning or if conservative critics had chosen elite private schools as an easy target.

After the hearing ended, a student burst in with hands painted red, and called out, “Being pro-Palestinian is not antisemitic!”An audience member with an Israeli-flag themed yarmulke listens during a House Committee on Education and Workforce hearing April 17 on Capitol Hill in Washington. Rep. Virginia Foxx , chair of the House committee, said, “The raw, visceral reaction of the nation to the unveiling of antisemitism at so-called elite institutions is indicative of the growing disconnect between the people and those universities,” and loss of public trust in higher education.

David M. Schizer, dean emeritus of Columbia’s law school, who is helping lead the university’s antisemitism task force, was a witness at the hearing Wednesday, as well. Earlier this month, the university suspended some students for participating in an event billed as “Resistance 101″

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