Columbia Probes Pro-Israel Critics Amid Trump’s Warnings

Columbia University is currently embroiled in controversy due to a disciplinary investigation targeting students who have criticized Israel. Among those impacted is senior Maryam Alwan, who received an email accusing her of discriminatory harassment after publishing an op-ed advocating for divestment from Israel. This development is part of a larger initiative by a newly established university disciplinary committee called the Office of Institutional Equity, which has been sending out notices to students involved in activities such as supporting Palestinian people on social media or participating in unauthorized protests.

One activist has come under scrutiny for putting up stickers resembling “Wanted” posters featuring university trustees’ likenesses, while another student faces potential discipline for co-hosting an art exhibition highlighting the previous spring’s campus occupation. Alwan’s opinion piece in the Columbia Spectator was said to have potentially caused “unwelcome conduct” concerning religion, national origin, or military service, prompting a pledge for a thorough investigation, with potential penalties ranging from warnings to expulsion.

The disciplinary measures, viewed by some as a suppression of free speech, have sparked significant concern among students, faculty, and free speech advocates. The investigations are partly being perceived as a response to external pressures, including financial threats from government bodies. Recently, federal agencies announced intentions to reconsider $51 million in contracts and potentially more in grants due to what they described as insufficient action on harassment of Jewish students. Columbia firmly rejects any association with violence or terror but has been accused by critics of prioritizing its financial interests over its community’s rights.

The scrutiny has expanded to Congress, with House Republicans asking the university for disciplinary records related to incidents reportedly promoting terrorism or vilifying the U.S. military. Columbia has remained tight-lipped about whether these records have been shared or the specifics of any ongoing investigations. The new committee, tasked with addressing cases of discrimination promptly, implements policies where speech against another country can be deemed harassment if it involves discriminatory remarks about people tied to that country.

Some students Jewish and otherwise, involved in pro-Palestinian protest activities, have received warnings from the university, while others cite that protests have occasionally devolved into antisemitism, suggesting that the administration has not adequately handled the aggressive atmosphere. Columbia’s rather secretive task force against antisemitism reported instances where Jewish students felt marginalized and mistreated, often during pro-Palestinian demonstrations. This led to significant disruptions, including police interventions.

The disciplinary process itself remains veiled, with students required to sign nondisclosure agreements before accessing documents or engaging with investigators, making the proceedings largely concealed from public view. Initial reports of this secretive handling appeared on a digital platform. Students and faculty have noted accusations against them for activities they were not involved in, highlighting inconsistencies in the investigations’ execution.

Some students are witnessing the committee as a tool to suppress pro-Palestinian speech, worried that it may rekindle last year’s charged protest movements. As recent events indicate, students have occupied buildings at Barnard College, linked to Columbia University, in reaction to the expulsion of peers from an Israeli history class. This uprising resulted in several arrests when the students seized a building, signaling a potent and continuing campus movement.