New York
CNN
—
A congressional committee probing campus antisemitism is increasing its investigation to incorporate Columbia College and demanding the Ivy League faculty flip over a trove of paperwork to lawmakers.
In a 16-page letter delivered to Columbia leaders Monday afternoon, Rep. Virginia Foxx, the Republican chairwoman of the Home Schooling and Workforce Committee, knowledgeable the college her panel is investigating Columbia’s “failure to guard Jewish college students.”
“We now have grave considerations concerning the inadequacy of Columbia’s response to antisemitism on its campus,” Foxx wrote within the letter, citing an “surroundings of pervasive antisemitism” that goes again greater than twenty years.
Foxx is requesting that Columbia officers produce a mountain of paperwork to assist the investigation by February 26.
The wide-ranging request for paperwork contains studies on antisemitic incidents since early 2021; the findings of disciplinary motion in opposition to college and college students; paperwork on motion taken in opposition to scholar teams associated to conduct involving Jews; data of requests to protest on the college; all communications since early 2021 referring to antisemitism involving college officers; and knowledge on international donations, together with funding from Qatari sources.
Foxx cited a “sample of deeply troubling” incidents at Columbia in current months, together with “assaults, harassment and vandalism.”
Columbia is the fourth college focused by the Home investigation on campus antisemitism, becoming a member of Harvard College, the College of Pennsylvania and the Massachusetts Institute of Expertise.
“We’re dedicated to combating antisemitism and all types of hatred,” mentioned a Columbia spokesperson on Monday. “We now have acquired the letter from Chairwoman Foxx and can cooperate absolutely with any investigation.”
Foxx beforehand hinted that the investigation may increase to Columbia, telling CNN last month that the committee was “taking a look at different faculties” and lawmakers are “fairly properly conscious” of Columbia. Foxx additionally advised the committee may increase its investigation to incorporate Cornell College.
The congressional scrutiny for Columbia is along with a probe from federal regulators.
In November, the Department of Education launched an investigation into Columbia and different faculties after receiving complaints about alleged incidents of antisemitism and Islamophobia.
Columbia President Minouche Shafik was invited to testify earlier than Congress in December throughout what turned out to be a disastrous listening to for the leaders of Harvard, UPenn and MIT. Shafik declined the invitation on account of a scheduling battle, based on the Columbia Spectator.
Tensions have been working excessive on Columbia’s campus for the reason that October 7 terror assault by Hamas on Israel.
Final fall, a Columbia scholar hanging posters on campus in assist of Israel was assaulted. Days later, a cell billboard truck drove exterior the doorway of Columbia displaying the names and faces of students who a conservative nonprofit mentioned had been linked to a statement blaming Israel for the Hamas terror assault.
Shai Davidai, an assistant professor on the Columbia Enterprise College, known as Shafik a “coward” in a fiery speech final 12 months criticizing the college president for failing to quiet “pro-terror” voices on the faculty.
Columbia launched a task force on antisemitism on November 1 in response to a “collection of antisemitic incidents on campus.” Columbia leaders mentioned the duty pressure can be designed to combat “this historic, however terribly resilient, type of hatred.”
Final week, Foxx gave a final warning to Harvard to show over high-priority paperwork lawmakers are looking for by 5 pm on February 14 or face a subpoena.