A new congressional report accuses Columbia University of systematic failure to discipline students involved in anti-Israel protests, culminating with the forcible takeover of a campus building in April.
The Education and the Workforce Committee released a report, as part of their larger probe into antisemitism on campus, Monday alleging “shocking discipline failures at Columbia.”
It reveals that, despite the school’s public commitment that student occupiers of Hamilton Hall would “face expulsion,” the vast majority are still in good standing with Columbia’s disciplinary committee.
“It’s reprehensible,” Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC), the committee’s chairwoman, told The Post. “You cannot reward bad behavior and expect good behavior. The students should face consequences for their bad behavior, and, by not having them face consequences, the university is just inviting more of the same.”
According to documents provided to the committee by Columbia, 18 of the 22 students who were arrested inside the illegally occupied Hamilton Hall on April 30 are in good standing with the school. Just three of those students have received interim suspension and one was placed on probation.
The report also alleges that the school gave a “get-out-of-jail-free” card to 27 students who were arrested by the NYPD but ultimately had their disciplinary cases at Columbia closed due to “insufficient” evidence.
Similarly, 29 of 35 students who refused to leave the encampment set up in the quad — in violation of school rules — reportedly had their charges lifted.
Of the 32 campers who disrupted alumni weekend, all are in good standing with the school, according to the committee’s report.
In a press release, Chairwoman Foxx called the university’s leadership “invertebrate” and accused the school of “allowing its own disciplinary process to be thwarted by radical students and faculty.”
Columbia graduate and co-founder of the Jewish Alumni Association Ari Shrage says the report should be a wakeup call ahead of the fall semester, which begins Sept. 3 : “If Columbia doesn’t enforce the rules for students who do over $1 million in damages, how do they expect anyone to behave this school year? What is going to cause the school to finally wake up?”
Despite the accusations from Capitol Hill, a spokesperson for Columbia said the university “is committed to combating antisemitism and all forms of discrimination and taking sustained, concrete action toward a campus where everyone in our community feels valued and is able to thrive.”
The university also said the quantity of cases against students has held up disciplinary committee action.
“Following the disruptions of the last academic year, Columbia immediately began disciplinary processes, including with immediate suspensions,” the school told The Post. “The disciplinary process is ongoing for many students involved in these disruptions, including some of those who were arrested, and we have been working to expedite the process for this large volume of violations.”
Nonetheless, the Committee on Education and the Workforce is committing to an ongoing probe of the university.
“We’re very concerned when we see antisemitism raise its ugly head on campuses,” Foxx said. “That is not a good sign in our country, and it’s not good for students.”
Just last week, university president Minouche Shafik stepped down from her post and was replaced by interim president Katrina Armstrong.
Foxx was one of several members of Congress, including Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, who spoke at Columbia’s campus amidst protests in late April during the encampment.
Student protesters heckled and chanted throughout their speeches, which Foxx said left her “disappointed.”
“We felt that we should come there to show our support particularly for the Jewish students,” she said. “There should not be created on campus a hostile and dangerous learning environment for any students.”
Pro-Palestine and anti-Zionist student protesters have already committed to returning to campus this September to wreak havoc — and the committee plans to continue to investigate Columbia’s handling of the protests.
“We’re going to continue to shine a spotlight on those who are complicit in antisemitism on their campuses, and we’re going to demand accountability for that,” Foxx said.
