UNC Frat Brothers Protect American Flag in Display of Patriotism; Bill Ackman Kicks in $10K
Edited by: Fern Sidman
In a remarkable display of collegiate patriotism and solidarity, the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill recently witnessed an event that captured national attention and sparked a significant fundraising effort. Amid a series of intense anti-Israel protests on campus, a group of fraternity brothers from Pi Kappa Phi made headlines by protecting the American flag from being replaced with a Palestinian flag, according to a report on Thursday in the New York Post. This act not only resonated with many across the nation but also led to a viral fundraising campaign to celebrate their actions.
Commie filth assaults Jewish student while UNC Frat Boys protect Old Glory. GOD bless our patriotic Frat Boys and all our Jewish brothers & sisters. This is good versus evil right before our eyes. pic.twitter.com/XwbtMs076z
— Allen Skillicorn ™ 🌵 🇺🇸 (@allenskillicorn) May 2, 2024
During a protest at UNC-Chapel Hill, tensions escalated as demonstrators attempted to pull down the American flag—a symbol of national identity—and replace it with the Palestinian flag. The information provided in the Post report indicated that this was part of a broader wave of demonstrations across U.S. college campuses, where students have been vocal about urging their universities to cease support for Israel amidst the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip. The protests at UNC were just one instance of the nationwide unrest.
As the situation intensified, members of the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity intervened. The demonstration quickly became intense, with protestors resorting to profane language, gestures, and even hurling debris toward the group defending the flag, the Post report detailed. Led by freshman Jason Calderon, the fraternity brothers took a stand to prevent the American flag from being lowered, a symbolic gesture that Calderon described as ensuring that “the headline of this day” would not be “An American flag falls at UNC.”
The Post reported that amid this chaos, Dan Stompel and his fraternity brothers stood firm, a decision that came to symbolize more than just a defense of physical fabric but a stand for the ideals it represented.
Dan Stompel recounted the events to Fox News, emphasizing the camaraderie and alertness that pervaded among the group during the protest. “If stuff was flying in, we would say, ‘Heads up.’ We would cover each other. We would look out for other people… It was a beautiful moment,” Stompel explained, as was noted in the Post report. His description paints a picture of a group bound by a collective duty to safeguard a symbol of their nation, illustrating a scene where each member was vigilant not only for their safety but for the safety of their peers.
Calderon expressed a profound connection to the historical sacrifices made for the freedoms and justice the American flag symbolizes. “So many Americans in history have fought for the ideals of justice and freedom that that flag represents, and who are we if we don’t take some water balloons and take some yelling and chaos to reap the benefits of what they’ve sown for American society,” Calderon noted, according to the Post report.
This moment of intervention quickly gained attention, highlighting the fraternity’s commitment to what they viewed as a defense of national symbols during a contentious protest.
The fraternity’s actions inspired a GoFundMe campaign aimed at throwing them “the party they deserve,” as a celebration of their patriotism, the Post report affirmed. The campaign quickly gained traction, raising an astonishing $400,000. Notably, the fundraiser attracted the support of prominent figures such as billionaire hedge fund manager Bill Ackman, who contributed $10,000, as per the Post report. The description of the fundraiser praised the fraternity brothers as “glorious, Patriotic Americans who value good beer and great times,” calling attention to the festive and communal spirit intended for the event.
The overwhelming response to the fundraiser left the fraternity members touched and grateful. According to the organizers, the brothers were “overwhelmed” by the support from across the country, which validated their actions and reflected a widespread appreciation for their stand during the protest, as was explained in the Post report. The fraternity also noted that they had coordinated with other fraternities who participated in defending the flag, suggesting a broader coalition of support among the student body.
The confrontation culminated with the arrest of three dozen protesters by the police, shedding light on the severity of the clash. Despite the adversity faced, the fraternity brothers’ actions were celebrated by many who viewed their act as a testament to patriotic values and civic responsibility. According to the Post report, Stompel’s reflection that there is “nothing more patriotic, nothing more genuine, nothing more inspiring” than their deed echoes a sentiment shared by many bystanders and supporters.
The event and its aftermath have elicited a range of responses from the public and notable figures alike. The information in the Post report noted that Sean Spicer, a former press secretary for President Trump, commented on social media platform X, praising the students’ actions as a restoration of faith in American youth, particularly in contrast to what he described as “anti-Semitic spoiled brats on college campuses.” This sentiment reflects a broader discourse concerning the state of American universities and the values they instill—or fail to instill—in their students.
Following the incident, university officials took additional measures to prevent similar occurrences by erecting barricades around the flagpole, the Post report said.
The fundraising campaign for the students who defended the flag not only exceeded financial expectations, raising a substantial sum to throw a celebratory event, but also highlighted a community’s solidarity and support for their actions. The Post also reported that social media reactions ranged from excitement about the planned celebration—one user anticipated that the party would be “epic”—to humorous exclusions, with one comment noting, “Hamas is definitely not invited!”
In a striking gesture of international solidarity, Mohammad Moazzeni, the head of Shiraz University in Iran, has announced a significant initiative to offer scholarships to students in the United States and Europe who have been expelled due to their participation in pro-Hamas demonstrations, according to a report published on the Iranian news website known as PressTV.ir. This announcement was made during a gathering of university students and professors in Shiraz, the capital city of the southern Iranian province of Fars.
The announcement comes amid ongoing tensions and widespread protests across various global campuses, where students have voiced strong opposition to what they perceive as Israeli aggression in Gaza. The report on the PressTV web site said that these protests have sometimes led to severe repercussions for the participants, including expulsions and threats of hindered future employment. Moazzeni’s offer is a direct response to these punitive measures against student activists and is framed as a critique of Western responses to the protests.
During his speech, Moazzeni condemned the actions of Western nations, particularly the treatment of student protesters by police forces, which he described as violent and autocratic. He suggested that such measures are indicative of a broader decline in what he termed “global arrogance,” as per the information provided in the PressTV report. Moazzeni also linked the current events in Gaza and the global solidarity movements with them to the principles of Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution, which prominently advocated for the Palestinian cause.
Shiraz University’s scholarships are intended to provide an academic refuge for those students and professors who have faced disciplinary actions due to their activism. As was revealed in the PressTV report, Moazzeni expressed confidence that other educational institutions in Shiraz and across Fars Province would likely join in extending similar offers, thereby broadening the scope of support for expelled students.
This move by Shiraz University not only highlights the university’s stance on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict but also positions it as a center willing to challenge the norms of Western academic repercussions in political matters. The PressTV report noted that the scholarships may attract a range of international students and academics who are seeking to continue their education and professional lives in a supportive environment, particularly those who feel marginalized or penalized by their home institutions.
Students are vocally criticizing their institutions’ ties to companies that support what they describe as the “occupying regime’s war” on Gaza, the PressTV report suggested. This movement has seen a dramatic increase in student-led protests, leading to a considerable number of academic disciplinary actions including arrests, suspensions, and expulsions.
The student protests are a reaction to the escalated military actions in Gaza that have reportedly resulted in the deaths of over 34,000 people since October of the previous year. The Washington-backed Israeli military operations in Gaza have drawn widespread international condemnation and have now become a major point of contention on college campuses, the PressTV report declared. These students are demanding that their universities sever relationships with any entities providing direct support to these military activities.
The response from universities to the protests has been varied but significant, with many institutions taking strict actions against participating students. In the past 10 days alone, hundreds of students have faced serious consequences including arrests and expulsions, highlighting the tension between student activism and institutional governance, PressTV said. These measures have sparked further debates about the freedom of speech and the role of educational institutions in political and ethical conflicts.
The protests also focus heavily on the role of the United States in the conflict. The U.S. government provides substantial military assistance to Israel, amounting to $3.8 billion annually. Additionally, recent developments have seen President Joe Biden signing a funding package that includes an extra $17 billion in support for Israel. This support has continued despite numerous calls at the United Nations for a ceasefire, which the U.S. has vetoed, further inflaming criticisms of U.S. policy both domestically and internationally.
Let us always remember the words of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei himself. He has repeatedly said, “God willing, the cancer of the usurper Zionist regime will be eradicated at the hands of the Palestinian people and the Resistance forces throughout the region.” Photo Credit: X.com
(JNS) Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei spoke out on Wednesday against a renewed push towards normalization between Israel and Saudi Arabia, according to the AFP news agency.
“Some people think that by forcing neighboring countries to normalize their ties [with Israel] the problem will be solved. They are wrong,” the Iranian leader said.
Khamenei’s statement comes a day after reports that the Biden administration has renewed efforts to bring about a peace deal between the Saudi kingdom and the Jewish state as part of a broader push to bring about a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.
The proposed normalization agreement would include a security pact with the United States, civilian nuclear assistance and diplomatic recognition of Israel—a transformative move for a region that long ostracized the Jewish state.
Recognition, though, would be contingent on Israel committing to a concrete plan, with a deadline, for the creation of a Palestinian state, something Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has so far rejected.
With an eye on the U.S. political calendar, the Saudis want to move in the next couple of weeks, hoping to generate bipartisan support in the Senate before the November election. The New York Times reports that if Trump reclaims the presidency, the chances of Democrats in the Senate voting for a normalization deal could vanish.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Israel from Riyadh this week, where he met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman “to discuss efforts to achieve lasting peace and security through greater integration in the Middle East.”
Speaking at the King Abdul Aziz International Conference Center during his trip the Arab kingdom, Blinken told World Economic Forum President Borge Brende, “I think the single biggest, most effective rebuke to both Iran and Hamas would be Israel having normal relations with every country in this region and the realization of a Palestinian state.”
Speaking about Israel-Saudi normalization, he added “But then in order to move forward with normalization, two things will be required: calm in Gaza and a credible pathway to a Palestinian state. So to the extent we finish our work between us, then I think what’s been a hypothetical or a theoretical question suddenly becomes real. And people will have to make decisions.”
Israel’s Kan News reported last month that the Saudis had accused Iran of instigating the conflict in Gaza to undermine the prospect of Saudi Arabia joining the Abraham Accords.
At the time, a source in the royal family also said that Tehran promotes terrorism and suggested that Riyadh played a role in thwarting last month’s unprecedented drone and missile attack against Israel by the Islamic Republic and its proxies.
“We confront every suspicious object that enters Saudi airspace. This is a matter of sovereignty,” the source said.
The Israeli government is opposed to the establishment of a Palestinian state given Ramallah’s support for terrorism, which could derail any chances for normalization. Recent polling shows a majority of Israelis are also against Palestinian statehood.
More than half of the Israeli public opposes the creation of a Palestinian state as part of a deal that would end the war against Hamas and normalize relations between Jerusalem and Riyadh, according to a January survey from the Israel Democracy Institute.
(A7) A former US Army officer has confirmed that Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar is protecting himself and his family by using Israeli hostages as human shields.
Speaking to Sky News, former US Army Vice Chief of Staff General Jack Keane quoted sources as saying that Sinwar has a significant number of hostages – even as many as 20 – surrounding both himself and his family.
“My sources tell me that Sinwar, who is the number one leader in Gaza of the Hamas organization, has 15-20 hostages protecting him and his family,” Keane told the news outlet.
He added, “That’s why they have these hostages to guarantee their survival.”
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In light of this, Keane stressed that, “Israel is absolutely right in putting military pressure on them to force the release of the hostages.”
This is not the first time such a report has surfaced: In February, the Washington Post reported that the IDF is confident that Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar is still hiding in the tunnels beneath Khan Yunis, and is “surrounded by a human shield of hostages intended to deter an operation to capture or kill him.”
If the report is true, it would shed light on Hamas’ refusal to release 40 hostages, and insistence on releasing between 20-33 hostages only. Previously, Hamas claimed that it could not locate the number of hostages Israel is demanding, and that it would require a ceasefire of several weeks in order to locate them.
The Biden administration’s drift away from full support for Israel will cost more Palestinian and Israeli lives. It will encourage Hamas to keep fighting and to keep rejecting proposals for the return of hostages in exchange for a humanitarian cease-fire. (Shutterstock)
( JNS) U.S. President Joe Biden will protect both free speech and the rule of law, he said on Thursday in his first formal remarks about ongoing anti-Israel encampments on college campuses.
“We are not an authoritarian nation where we silence people or squash dissent. The American people are heard,” Biden said in a three-minute speech. “In fact, peaceful protest is in the best tradition of how Americans respond to consequential issues. But neither are we a lawless country.”
“We’re a civil society, and order must prevail,” he said.
White House spokesmen previously issued statements condemning violence and antisemitism, but Biden’s only previous public statement about the protests was a brief interaction with reporters in April. He condemned both “the antisemitic protests” and “those who don’t understand what’s going on with the Palestinians.”
Since that comment on April 22, the situation on college campuses across the country has escalated dramatically, with anti-Israel student protesters barricading themselves in a Columbia University academic building and a university staff member claiming that he was held “hostage.”
At the University of California, Los Angeles on Wednesday night, police arrested more than 130 people after days of confrontations among anti-Israel protesters, counter-demonstrators and the police that at times turned violent.
Biden drew a clear line on Thursday between First Amendment-protected free speech and the violence, vandalism and intimidation of Jewish and pro-Israel students on dozens of American college campuses.
“Violent protest is not protected. Peaceful protest is,” Biden said. “Vandalism, trespassing, breaking windows, shutting down campuses, forcing the cancellation of classes and graduations. None of this is a peaceful protest. Threatening people, intimidating people, instilling fear in people is not peaceful protest.”
“There’s the right to protest, but not the right to cause chaos,” the president added.
Biden also said there was “no place in America for antisemitism or threats of violence against Jewish students” and condemned “Islamophobia or discrimination against Arab-Americans or Palestinian-Americans.”
“As president, I will always defend free speech, and I will always be just as strong standing up for the rule of law,” Biden said.
Biden took two brief questions from the press after his remarks, replying simply, “No,” when asked if the protests had made him reconsider any of his Middle East policies or whether the National Guard should be called in to deal with the protest encampments.
The Biden administration funneled nearly $1.3 million to the Taliban as part of reconstruction projects in Afghanistan that are being administered by the United States, according to a government oversight group.
Since 2021, when the Biden administration conducted its botched withdrawal from Afghanistan, the State Department’s Bureau of Political-Military Affairs has allocated millions to weapons removal projects. As part of these activities, the U.S. government and its partners inside Afghanistan “have paid Taliban entities nearly $1.3 million in taxes, including $138,000 this quarter,” according to an audit by the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR), which monitors America’s $17 billion post-withdrawal investment in the country.
Another $5 million in U.S. funds remain available for future weapons removal projects, which will likely have to be conducted with the Taliban’s blessing. The United States’ payments to the Taliban—which seized power during the Biden administration’s evacuation—come amid warnings that Afghanistan “is once again becoming a terrorist haven,” according to SIGAR. The oversight group has repeatedly warned that billions in U.S. taxpayer dollars are potentially being diverted to the Taliban and that this money cannot be properly tracked because the Biden administration is stonewalling investigations.
With billions in taxpayer dollars still flowing into Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, terror attacks from inside the country are on the rise. The Taliban government “remain[s] tolerant of some terror groups, such as al Qaeda and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan,” according to SIGAR. Other militant groups, including ISIS, are also expanding their operations in Afghanistan and maintain the ability to launch attacks on U.S. and Western interests abroad.
ISIS-K, for instance, “retains the capability and will to attack U.S. and Western interests abroad in as little as six months and with little to no warning,” Gen. Michael Kurilla, the head of U.S. Central Command, told the Senate Armed Services Committee in March.
The Taliban continues to enforce its strict interpretation of Islamic law, which includes booting women out of the public sector and banning girls from attending schools.
In March, Taliban leaders defended the stoning and flogging of women who violate religious laws, according to documentation provided by SIGAR.
The deteriorating human rights situation has forced many Afghans to flee the country, with a sizable portion arriving at the U.S. southern border.
“Groups of 30-40 Afghans, including adults and children, made the journey across 13 countries from Brazil to the U.S.-Mexico border, using a variety of transportation methods including planes, trains, buses, and by foot,” SIGAR reported, citing interviews with refugees.
“Many of those interviewed said SIGAR was the first U.S. government agency to contact them since their arrival,” indicating that the U.S. government is not undertaking a coordinated effort to track those entering the country.
Afghans trying to obtain asylum in America said they “often had to pay bribes to police officers” in a range of countries along the way, “since they entered those countries illegally.”
Upon arriving at the U.S. southern border, one refugee recounted being “greeted by a border agent who told them, ‘Welcome to America.'”
(A7) Saudi Arabia initiated a wave of arrests of citizens who incited against Israel on social networks amid the Gaza war, according to Bloomberg.
According to the report, this marks another step by the kingdom, indicating readiness to agree to normalization between the states. However, such a normalization move will be contingent upon Israel’s agreement to commit to promoting the establishment of a Palestinian state.
Arrests for expressions on the internet are not rare in Saudi, but the current wave of arrests is exceptional, as it directs many efforts to prevent incitement against Israel.
A security official in the country noted that the Saudis are concerned about rebellions in their territory in the context of increased incitement against Israel while discussions on normalization are underway.
American officials claimed that the Saudi arrests are related to the discussions between Riyadh and Washington regarding a significant move involving a defense alliance and also the approval for Saudi Arabia to operate a civilian nuclear program – part of which includes normalization with Israel.
(DCNF) Police began detaining anti-Israel protesters at an encampment at the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) early Thursday morning following several violent clashes.
Los Angeles Police Department and California Highway Patrol (CHP) officers with riot gear used flashbangs and tear gas as they moved in on the encampment set up at a plaza on the UCLA campus, Fox News reported. UCLA announced the cancellation of classes Wednesday after violence broke out between pro-Israel and anti-Israel protesters, with at least one individual being taken to the hospital via ambulance, according to reports.
UCLA: Police breach encampment, start to detain protestors
Police detained several students with zip ties. CNN reported that detained students were moved to buses as the police set about clearing the encampment.
The California Highway Patrol stated that multiple people had been arrested, according to The New York Times.
UCLA BREAKING 🚨 : CHP RIOT POLICE HAVE BROKEN THROUGH, POLICE HAVE BREACHED THE ENCAMPMENT. PEOPLE BEING DETAINED. pic.twitter.com/uxcAOReRp5
Video posted to X by Sergio Olmos, a Calmatters investigative reporter, early Wednesday morning showed fights breaking out among the two sides and reported the use of pepper spray.
🚨On the ground at UCLA for @theblaze, as I’m now their new national correspondent: LAPD is now inside the encampment on campus. Protesters moved back but are standing their ground. pic.twitter.com/2GFpiyx87G
The anti-Israel protesters oppose Israel’s response to the Oct. 7 attack by the radical Islamic terrorist group Hamas that killed over 1,200 people.
UCLA 🚨: I was able to get inside the Pro Palestine encampment tonight. This video shows the complete inside layout, tents that include medical, food and sleeping quarters, and members FORTIFYING the makeshift perimeter barriers as police set to enter the area. pic.twitter.com/YJBNufdNrT
In New York City, police removed protesters from a similar encampment at Columbia University who occupied Hamilton Hall on the Ivy League school’s campus.
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A representative of Hamas said on Wednesday evening that the terror group was planning to reject a recent ceasefire and U.S.-brokered hostage deal, described by the Biden administration as “very generous” offer, though it claimed to want to continue negotiations regarding an agreement.
“Our position on the current [deal] is negative,” Osama Hamdan, a senior Lebanon-based Hamas official, told Hezbollah-linked news outlet Al-Manar TV.
Hamdan said that Hamas’ military infrastructure in the Strip was “still fine” and that the Israeli army had suffered heavy losses in the coastal enclave.
“The enemy bet on a decrease in [Hamas’] capabilities, but the resistance was preparing,” he said.
He also clarified that support from Iranian proxies had shored up Hamas’ efforts against the Jewish State.
“There is coordinated action in the field and regular consultation between the resistance axis. How long can this fight last?” Hamdan said.
He said that the ongoing fighting had helped strengthen Iran, and referenced the unprecedented aerial assault launched against Israel in mid-April.
ne of the most important results of this battle is that the resistance axis is increasing in strength and power,” Hamdan said.
“The Iranian response to the Zionist entity established a new equation.”
Shortly after Hamdan’s interview, Hamas released a media statement clarifying that their “negative position” on the current proposal “does not mean negotiations have stopped. There is a back-and-forth issue.”
According to Hebrew-language media reports, the main sticking point is Hamas’ demand that Israel declare an official, permanent end to the war.
Israel has said that is a nonstarter, but has reportedly offered a year-long truce.
Hamas’ refusal to accept the ceasefire deal comes after Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the proposal was “very generous” and that by not agreeing, the terror group was serving as an “obstacle to peace.”
A large billboard posted near the Ayalon Highway in Tel Aviv reading, "On Independence Day, the flag is raised on the Temple Mount," May 1, 2024. Photo by Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90.
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JNS)
Two Israeli teenagers were detained by security forces on Wednesday morning after one of them wrapped herself in the country’s national flag at Jerusalem’s Temple Mount, Judaism’s holiest site, rights activists said.
The two girls, reportedly friends from Otniel in the South Hebron Hills of Judea, were taken to a nearby police station in handcuffs and banned from the site for an unknown period, according to Arutz 7.
Tom Nisani, the executive director of Beyadenu—Returning to the Temple Mount, said, “The Israeli government needs to decide whether the Temple Mount is in our hands or the hands of the [Jordanian] Waqf.”
“There is no legal or moral reason to arrest Jews who walk with the Israeli flag on the Temple Mount. On Yom Haatzmaut, we will all raise flags on the Temple Mount,” he added.
❤️ *כל הכבוד!*
בני הר המוריה מצדיעים לך, את מלכה !
בת ישראל הקדושה מניפה את דגל הלאום בגאון, בהר הבית הקדוש!
כולנו מריעים ואומרים לך תודה, זה מה שנקרא לצאת מהשיפלות מהגלות הארורה ,
תסתכלו על הפנים של השוטרים של מדינת ישראל , מעניין למה זה כל כך מפריע להם?!?!
בני הר המוריה pic.twitter.com/6ZL6p7cwhF
On Israel’s Independence Day, which will be marked on May 13-14, hundreds of activists intend to visit the Temple Mount carrying Israeli flags, in defiance of the status quo agreement with Jordan that has governed the Jewish holy site since the 1967 Six-Day War ended.
Under the status quo, the day-to-day administration of the Mount is overseen by the Waqf, an Islamic religious trust, while the Israel Police is responsible for security. The display of flags of any kind is prohibited, though this rule has rarely been enforced on Palestinian Arabs.
“It’s no coincidence that the Hamas terror group named its [Oct. 7] Simchat Torah massacre after the Temple Mount. This is a national and religious conflict, and so far, the State of Israel refuses to internalize this and demonstrate true sovereignty on the Temple Mount,” said Nisani.
“The raising of the Israeli flag on the mount [should] be done by the government and the security forces themselves; this hasn’t happened, so we decided that the time has come to do it ourselves,” he told Israel Hayom.
According to Beyadenu, 500 people have already committed to coming on May 14, and more are expected to join. The group purchased a large billboard near Tel Aviv’s Ayalon Highway to recruit more participants.
More than 4,000 Jews ascended the Temple Mount during Passover, which ended on Monday, breaking records from previous years.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, left, and Israeli President Isaac Herzog shake hands during their meeting in Tel Aviv, Israel Wednesday, May 1, 2024. (Evelyn Hockstein/Pool Photo via AP)
(AP) — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken hiked up pressure on Hamas on Wednesday to accept the latest proposal for a cease-fire with Israel, saying the “time is now” for an agreement that would free hostages and bring a pause in the nearly seven months of war in Gaza.
But a key sticking point appeared to remain — whether the deal would completely end Israel’s offensive as Hamas has demanded.
Blinken met with Israeli leaders throughout the day on the last stop of his seventh visit to the region since the war erupted in October, trying to push through what has been an elusive deal between Israel and Hamas. The U.S. and fellow mediators Egypt and Qatar hope to avert an Israeli offensive into the southern Gaza town of Rafah, where some 1.4 million Palestinians are sheltering.
Throughout months of talks, Hamas has said the freeing of all the hostages it holds must bring a permanent halt to the war and the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza.
The proposed deal now at the center of talks raises that possibility, according to leaked details that were confirmed by an Egyptian official and a Hamas official. But Hamas is seeking to strengthen the language to ensure a complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from the entire Gaza Strip, the Egyptian official said, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the internal negotiations. The group said it is likely to give its response to the proposal on Thursday.
In public, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has staunchly rejected stopping the war before Hamas is destroyed. In a sign of the challenges in the negotiations, Netanyahu in his talks with Blinken on Wednesday repeated his vow to launch the offensive on Rafah, which he says is Hamas’ last stronghold in Gaza.
Blinken said Israel has made “very important” compromises in cease-fire efforts and it is now up to Hamas to get the deal done.
“There’s no time for further haggling. The deal is there,” Blinken said, shortly before he was to leave Israel.
Earlier in the day, he said in talks with Israel’s ceremonial President Isaac Herzog in Tel Aviv that Hamas would bear the blame for any failure to get a deal. “No delays, no excuses. The time is now,” he said.
Blinken said the deal would also allow much needed food, medicine and water to get into Gaza, where the war has sparked a humanitarian crisis, pushed northern Gaza to the brink of famine and driven around 80% of the population of 2.3 million from their homes.
Blinken said there has been “meaningful progress” in efforts to increase the flow of aid. On Wednesday, Israel reopened its Erez crossing for deliveries into northern Gaza for the first time since it was damaged in Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack.
Hanging over the cease-fire negotiations is the possibility of an Israeli attack on Rafah, where more than half of Gaza’s population has fled, cramming into vast tent camps and other shelters. On Tuesday, Netanyahu vowed to go ahead with the assault with or without a cease-fire deal.
“The operation in Rafah doesn’t depend on anything. The prime minister made this clear to Secretary Blinken,” Netanyahu’s office said after the two met Wednesday. Hard-line members of Netanyahu’s coalition, on whom he depends to keep his government in power, have railed against any deal that prevents a Rafah attack as a victory for Hamas.
The United States has staunchly supported Israel’s campaign of bombardment and ground offensives in Gaza since Hamas’ unprecedented attack on Oct. 7 into southern Israel. But the U.S. has grown increasingly critical of the staggering toll borne by Palestinian civilians and has been outspoken against a move on Rafah. American officials say they oppose a major offensive but that if Israel conducts one, it must first evacuate civilians.
Faculty for Justice in Palestine at the Gaza solidarity encampment at the University of California, Los Angeles, one day before violent riots on campus, April 29, 2024. Credit: Noopur28 via Wikimedia Commons.
By Jonathan S. Tobin (JNS)
(JNS) Negotiating with mobs is always a fool’s errand. That’s what Minouche Shafik, the president of Columbia University, learned in recent days when she attempted to talk her way out of an impasse with pro-Hamas students who set up an encampment on the school’s South Lawn and then occupied a building in order to force the administration to, among other things, divest itself from any investments related to Israel. In the end, talks with protesters failed, the situation escalated, and police had to be called in to restore order, albeit at the cost of shutting down the campus and making it impossible for the university to operate normally.
At colleges across the nation, administrators are being faced with similar choices as mobs of students chanting for the destruction of Israel and in favor of terrorism against Jews are crossing the lines from legal protests to illegal acts of intimidation and violence to get their way. But as much as universities are tempted to compromise with the protesters, doing so is a mistake. That’s true not just because appeasement of bullies—and that is what those conducting these protests are as they seek to silence dissent against their stands, and shield themselves from accountability and press coverage—always leads to escalating demands and further concessions.
The real danger in giving in to protests goes deeper than undermining the rule of law or making colleges hard to administer. Every concession to activists chanting for a “free Palestine” to exist “from the river to the sea” or cheering to “globalize the intifada” is a gesture that legitimizes Hamas’s genocidal cause of destroying the Jewish state and slaughtering its population.
Normalizing hate
The protesters rationalize, excuse or even label the unspeakable atrocities of Oct. 7 as justifiable “resistance.” Those are not reasonable opinions that deserve respect and understanding. Doing so normalizes what ought to be labeled as an outrageous expression of hatred. Agreeing to negotiate whether or not to boycott Israel is equally unacceptable. It means an acceptance of the vile idea that antisemitism is a legitimate form of discourse.
Yet that is exactly what those who are defending the students are doing. It’s true that many observers put this outbreak of chaos on campus down to students empathizing with Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip caught up in a war started by Hamas on Oct. 7. But as anyone who listens to their rhetoric knows, these are not anti-war protests. In fact, they are pro-war demonstrations since their cause is not really an end to the fighting but to keep Hamas in place, essentially declaring victory for terrorism and ensuring that it will continue. This is the same Hamas that intends to carry on with plans to eliminate Israel, which it falsely labels as a settler/colonial oppressor, rather than the sole democracy in the Middle East and the only Jewish state on the planet.
The student mobs’ apologists characterize their actions as—like the Black Lives Matter riots of the summer of 2020—“mostly peaceful.” They excuse their use of facemasks that conceal their identity in much the same way the violent racists of the Ku Klux Klan wore white hoods. And they minimize their intimidation of Jewish students. In this way those who condone or negotiate with these thugs cosplaying Palestinian terrorists with keffiyehs are saying that being a fan of Hamas and supporting an antisemitic ideology is acceptable or even laudable behavior. That is something no fair-minded or decent person should be advocating.
And when one of the pro-Hamas students’ cheerleaders, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), divides Jewish students into two groups — “pro-genocide” and “anti-genocide” — that’s nothing less than incitement to violence, even if it is couched in a disingenuous condemnation of antisemitism.
Chaos at Columbia
Having had the students evicted from their tents last week only to see them return the next day, Shafik was still trying to appease a group whose rhetoric and actions were creating an atmosphere of hatred for Israel and Jews. Sensing weakness, these students—assisted by outside agitators—seized Hamilton Hall, one of the campuses’ main buildings. Then, in a parody of Hamas terrorists’ demands in Gaza, they insisted that “humanitarian aid” be allowed for those who had violently seized the place and, if only briefly, taken some employees hostage.
Shafik had been roasted by the left-wing press, including The New York Times, for her first call to the police, because supporters of the students likened them to the generations who protested against the Vietnam War or South African apartheid. But as the situation on campus deteriorated into violence and chaos, the school’s trustees gave her the OK to ask the New York City Police Department to resolve the standoff. They did so with professionalism, evicting the occupiers of both the building and the tent city with a minimum of fuss and without any of the violence that ended a similar confrontation in 1968.
In defending the police action, New York City Mayor Eric Adams correctly identified the protests as profoundly un-American. Incidents on campuses where U.S. flags were torn down and replaced with Palestinian flags are symbolic of the contempt that the leftist ideologues’ agenda is not limited to their support for the destruction of Israel. Their disdain for America and its democratic values is part and parcel of a mindset formed by indoctrination in the woke myths of critical race theory and intersectionality. And they are insensible to the pride that most Americans feel for those instances in which police or students have defended the stars and stripes or returned it to its proper place.
Shafik and her board deserve little credit for her decision to act. She had tolerated an intolerable situation on the Manhattan campus for weeks. During that time, Jews on campus were subjected to an unprecedented atmosphere of intimidation and threats from students, faculty and others spouting lies about Israel committing a Palestinian “genocide” and who made no secret of their identification with the Hamas terrorists responsible for the largest mass slaughter of Jews since the Holocaust. Rhetoric about not tolerating the existence of “Zionists” had become normative, as had advocacy for antisemitic BDS resolutions that seek to target Israelis and Jews for discrimination.
Buying quiet on campus
But as appalling as Shafik’s performance has been, it was far better than what happened at Northwestern University and Brown University. In both cases, the schools gave in to student demands and allowed them a say in whether these institutions would implement divestment from Israel in exchange for quiet on campus.
For those administrators, it seems like a good bargain; they probably thought that they bought peace rather cheaply. After all, implementing boycotts at these schools will be a long, drawn-out affair and may not ultimately lead to the discriminatory agenda the pro-Hamas students seek. Among other complications, the state laws of Illinois and Rhode Island rightly hold BDS to be a form of illegal discrimination.
Opponents of Israel, however, have reason to celebrate both the weakness of those school’s administrators and the willingness of mob leaders to take “yes” for an answer. Many of the protesters, outside agitators and their funders think that the ongoing spectacle of shutting down campuses and crowds at major institutions cheering on terrorists helps their cause. Some may even believe that outcomes in which the protests are ended by police action also turn them into martyrs or help make them appear sympathetic to liberals who view student demonstrations from the Vietnam era with nostalgia.
But the object of all the post-Oct. 7 protests is to mainstream the demonization of Israel and Zionism, and to essentially ostracize and silence Jewish students who refuse to bow to fashionable opinion on campuses and join the mobs. Schools that make these sorts of concessions only make that problem worse.
Authorities are not wrong to view the anti-Israel demonstrations as a challenge to the normal functioning of institutions of higher education as well as to public order. For example, Columbia’s very liberal regulations allow all sorts of protests but still require that, among other things, demonstrations be conducted in a manner that does not impinge on the rights of other students. Such rules cannot be flouted with impunity if the university is not going to be ruled by the whims of radical mobs assembled at the behest of any cause.
Nor should any university permit libraries to be commandeered by protesters, which occurred at Portland State University in Oregon. Or, in the case of the University of California, Los Angeles, its sprawling anti-Israel encampments made it difficult or impossible for students to access classes or parts of the school grounds.
At its heart, this nationwide struggle is not just a matter of preserving law and order on college campuses. It’s about a sinister movement whose aim is to single out Israel and Zionism—the national liberation movement of the Jewish people—for opprobrium, isolation and destruction. It is nothing less than a 21st-century variety of antisemitism rooted in woke ideology that grants a permission slip for Jew-hatred. If any other minority group—African-Americans, Hispanics, Asians—were being treated in the way that Jews are now being hounded on campuses, there would be no debate about the necessity of a zero-tolerance policy for such behavior. Those who have broken school rules or gone so far as to commit violence to further their hateful cause should be suspended and expelled, not coddled as misunderstood idealists. Universities that tolerate this behavior and allow hostile environments for Jews to be imposed by campus radicals should be stripped of federal funding for violating Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act.
Statements from President Joe Biden that create false moral equivalencies to media coverage that legitimizes the protests or concessions from universities to the anti-Israel protesters, must all be seen as part of the same moral failure on the part of much of our political and educational establishments. Toleration of antisemitic mobs will only lead to more antisemitism.
Jonathan S. Tobin is editor-in-chief of JNS (Jewish News Syndicate). Follow him @jonathans_tobin.
NYPD Disbands Anti-Israel Encampment at Fordham University Amid Rising Campus Tensions
Edited by: Fern Sidman
In a swift and decisive action, the New York Police Department (NYPD) disbanded an anti-Israel encampment at Fordham University’s Lincoln Center campus on Wednesday, calling attention to the escalating campus tensions amid broader protests. According to a report on Wednesday in the New York Post, the operation was initiated at the behest of the university administration, which cited concerns over safety and property.
NOW: Protesters are rallying outside Fordham University’s Lincoln Center campus in support of the ‘Gaza Solidarity Encampment’ which was set up earlier this morning
Students inside encampment are rallying with the crowd outside through the windows pic.twitter.com/aHvstN5MbZ
The “Gaza Solidarity Encampment,” established inside the Leon Lowenstein Center, a prominent building at Fordham’s Manhattan campus, was a direct response to earlier police actions at Columbia University and the City University of New York. The information provided in the Post report indicated that these actions had resulted in the arrest of hundreds of demonstrators the previous night, sparking further protests. Initially comprising about 30 participants, the Fordham encampment’s numbers had dwindled to approximately 12 by the afternoon, though hundreds rallied outside the building, the report in the Post added.
The NYPD, equipped in riot gear, moved in before 6 p.m., arresting several demonstrators who steadfastly refused to vacate the premises. Noted in the Post report was that NYPD Deputy Commissioner of Operations, Kaz Daughtry, confirmed these details, noting the rapid execution of the operation to ensure the dispersal of the encampment.
NYPD officers enter Fordham University after receiving a request from the university to disperse the unlawful encampment.
Multiple arrests have been made of students who refused a final dispersal order. pic.twitter.com/3ICRViluoW
In parallel, Fordham University had taken preemptive administrative actions against the protesters, suspending and banning those who refused to leave from campus earlier that day. These measures illustrated the university’s serious view of the situation, framing the encampment as “a clear and present danger to persons, property,” as was affirmed in the Post report. This language was echoed in a letter released by police, in which university officials explicitly requested NYPD intervention to help clear the encampment.
As Fordham grapples with the aftermath of an anti-Israel encampment and the reactions it provoked, the situation reflects broader societal and geopolitical tensions.
The controversy began when a group of protesters, some wearing masks and keffiyehs, established a “Gaza Solidarity Encampment” within the university premises. According to the information in the Post report, the demonstration escalated quickly, featuring Palestinian flags, chants against the NYPD and Fordham’s perceived complicity in injustices against Palestinians, and symbolic expressions such as drumming and graffiti. Notably, slogans such as “Israel bombs, Fordham pays, how many kids did you kill today?” captured the intense sentiment of the pro-Hamas, pro-terror protesters, the report added.
NYPD officers enter Fordham University after receiving a request from the university to disperse the unlawful encampment.
Multiple arrests have been made of students who refused a final dispersal order. pic.twitter.com/3ICRViluoW
In response to the growing unrest and the physical occupation of part of its campus, Fordham University called upon the NYPD to clear the encampment and ensure safety. The police action involved setting up barriers and confronting protesters, some of whom accused the NYPD of being trained by Israeli forces, reflecting the global dimension of local protests, as was described in the Post report. The NYPD’s presence was requested to remain on campus through May 22, extending through the commencement ceremonies to prevent further disruptions.
What the hell has happened to America? More of the Jihad squad at Fordham University. Do they not realize Hamas would imprison or kill most of them if they went to Gaza? Sharia does not like liberals or communists, just FYI.
— Ben Bergquam – Real America’s Voice (RAV-TV) News (@BenBergquam) May 2, 2024
The protests and the university’s response to them elicited mixed reactions from the community. Speaking to the Post, Brigitte Guillerme, a local resident with mixed Christian and Jewish heritage, expressed her disdain for the protests. She criticized the naiveté of the activists, suggesting ironically that their perspectives might change if they experienced life in the Gaza Strip firsthand, the report in the Post said. Her comments reflect a common critique of campus activism – that it may lack nuanced understanding of the complex realities of international conflicts.
After the encampment was cleared, the physical remnants of the protest included graffiti and stickers on university property calling for the liberation of Palestine and an end to the purported genocide, as was indicated in the Post report. These markings are symbolic of the political investments of the protesters and signify the lingering presence of these sentiments even after the physical protests have been disbanded.
The far-left president of Colombia threatened Wednesday to join South Africa’s petition to the International Court of Justice accusing Israel of genocide in the Gaza Strip, while pledging to end diplomatic ties with the Jewish state.
In an address in the city of Bogota Wednesday, marking International Worker’s Day, President Gustavo Petro, former member of the M-19 terrorist organization, said that his government would end diplomatic relations with Israel Thursday.
“Here in front of you, the government of change, of the president of the republic announces that tomorrow we will break diplomatic relations with the state of Israel…for having a government, for having a president who is genocidal,” Petro said.
Shortly afterwards, Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz responded to Petro’s comments on Twitter/X.
“History will remember that Gustavo Petro decided to side with the most despicable monsters known to mankind who burned babies, murdered children, raped women and kidnapped innocent civilians,” Katz tweeted.
Colombia, once an ally of the Jewish state, has over the last two years moved to curb ties with Israel.
Petro, a long-time Israel critic, accused Israel of Nazism following the October 7th Hamas invasion of the Jewish state, and threatened to expel Israel’s ambassador to Colombia.
In March, Petro again compared the State of Israel to Nazi Germany, and declared that his country would impose an arms embargo on the Jewish state.
“Asking for food, more than 100 Palestinians were killed by Netanyahu. This is called genocide and is reminiscent of the Holocaust even if the world powers do not like to recognize it,” Petro wrote in Spanish on social media. “The world must block Netanyahu.”
(JNS) We have lost the battle against insanity. Perhaps we never fought it. Regardless, the world has gone quite mad.
I just witnessed this on the Columbia University campus. A young white female student, draped fashionably in a keffiyeh, stood at a microphone and demanded that the administration provide food and water to the student “protesters” lest they die of dehydration or starvation.
Yes, she actually said that.
The student insisted that the administration had an “obligation” to those students who have “paid for a meal plan.” Yes, she actually said that too. She was speaking in front of Hamilton Hall, just broken into by criminal outsiders as well as students. The young jihadists barricaded themselves inside. This act of breaking and entering finally destroyed all pretense of normal student life.
Did the “starving and thirsty” student think that she and her co-conspirators are war victims and therefore entitled to food drops or a guarantee of safe passage for aid deliveries?
Some of the most privileged students on earth have decided that they are endangered sacred victims. This is beyond diagnosis but surely qualifies as some kind of psychosis.
What other conclusion can be reached about the surging mobs on American campuses and street demonstrations that, in Islamist style, are pathologically arrogant and violent? Clearly, they are engaged in some kind of delusional mimicry of religious war.
This is all the more disturbing because many educated, “good” people—including a large number of professors—honestly and earnestly believe all or most of the Big Lies about Israel that the internet and the media have fed them over the years. The professoriate insists that the crimes Israel has allegedly committed (yes, Israel) literally endanger world peace.
These “good people” are blaming the Jews for having been attacked (by a righteous “resistance”) and having dared to fight back. To them, Netanyahu—rather than the antisemites—is the reason Jewish students cannot enter campus safely and all students cannot take their exams or graduate.
Blame it on the Jews. Never on the Jew-haters or on the jihadists.
One “good” person actually said to me: “Israel did not have to go into Gaza. There must have been another, better way to respond to 10/7. An international alliance might have condemned Hamas and held them accountable in some way.”
I was speechless. I could not think of a world body that has ever condemned Hamas or any other antisemitic Islamist entity for its crimes. Would such “condemnation” bring back every last Israeli hostage safely? Would it ensure that Hamas would not strike again and again?
Putting “condemnation” aside, has any world body ever taken meaningful action against the Muslim extremists who have slaughtered Muslims, Christians, Hindus, Sikhs, Bahai, Armenians and more? Have they acted against communist China, which has put a million Muslims in concentration camps and jailed and tortured Buddhists?
Apparently, if a Muslim is killed, no one cares except when a Jewish person has done the killing, even if that Jewish person did it in self-defense.
The other day, a Syrian woman on television dismissed what Israel has done in Gaza as “minor, unimportant, compared to what [Syrian dictator] Bashar al-Assad did when he murdered 300,000 Syrian Muslims.”
She’s more than right.
An Iranian dissident friend of mine cannot believe the level of scrutiny Israel faces given what Iran has done to its dissidents and its women, not to mention Iran’s pivotal role in funding international terrorism.
Moreover, if one wants to blame Netanyahu for “funding” Hamas in the (misguided) hope that it would keep them “quiet” (point taken) or keep himself in power (point also taken), then what can we say about Obama and Biden’s funding of Iran, which is now about to become a nuclear power?
Afghan women are committing suicide because of the Taliban’s misogynist policies. Which international alliance has gotten the Taliban to stop?
The belief in the greater morality or effectiveness of international alliances is hopelessly naïve.
I asked one professor what else Israel could have done after Oct. 7 other than attempt to root out Hamas and its terror tunnels. He said that Netanyahu should have forged a world alliance to hold Hamas accountable.
I was absolutely speechless. After a moment, however, I asked him whether he felt the same about Ukraine. He did. He favored “realpolitik” and did not think asking Ukraine to stand down would be appeasement.
“What Ukraine should have done is give Putin what he initially wanted and then built a wall and tried to join NATO,” he said. “Ukraine is filled with Russians anyway, and so many of [the Ukrainians] are Nazis. Think of how many lives would have been saved. It would have been the more civilized thing to do.”
This man actually teaches at a university. Yet he cannot face reality: No wall would stop Putin. No wall could stop Iran and Hamas. All walls can be breached. Terrorists and tyrants are not concerned with being “civilized.” They will never stop. They can only be stopped by a stronger military power with the freedom to use that power. The world’s neighborhoods, beginning with the Middle East, are nasty and brutish places filled with tribal warfare and ferocious hatreds.
The students who are currently occupying campuses and buildings would not survive these places for a single minute. Nor would the professors or administrators who are protecting and defending those students.
Late the other night, New York City police were called in to remove the students and outside radicals who barricaded themselves inside Hamilton Hall. The police found horrendous vandalism: smashed windows and overturned or damaged furniture. Will the ensuing arrests lead to serious penalties?
Let’s find out how many of the radicals were students and how many were paid and trained outsiders. Let the lawyers begin their class action civil lawsuits on behalf of students— especially Jewish students—for the disruption of their studies and the deliberate destruction of their peace of mind.
Please remember: The 1968 student protests at Columbia were against a war. The 2024 protests are in favor of a war against Israel, America and the Jews.
I am in mourning for my beloved academia, for my country and for my civilization.
Pro-Palestinian and pro-Hamas supporters set up a protest encampment on the campus of Columbia University in New York, as seen on April 22, 2024. Credit: Lev Radin/Shutterstock.
Who’s Who on the Columbia University Board of Trustees & How They Influence Campus Policy
Edited by: Fern Sidman
Columbia University has recently been at the center of a heated controversy due to its handling of the now notorious anti-Israel encampment on campus, raising significant questions about the influence of its board of trustees. According to a recently published report that appeared in the New York Post, critics, including prominent political figures, have said that the board’s composition—dominated by donors and affiliates with strong ties to the Democratic Party—has affected its decision-making processes, particularly in dealing with disruptive and blatantly anti-Semitic campus activities.
The board of trustees at Columbia University, a venerable Ivy League institution, includes several influential figures with deep connections to the Democratic Party. The information provided in the Post report indicated that this includes a billionaire from the notable Pritzker family, a hedge fund manager who has contributed over $4 million to Democratic causes, and high-profile public servants such as President Barack Obama’s former homeland security secretary and a federal judge appointed by President Bill Clinton. These affiliations have brought the board under scrutiny, with critics arguing that political biases are influencing university policies.
According to a detailed examination by The Post, at least six of the 21 trustees have direct ties to the Democratic Party, based on voter registration and political donation records among other public documents. Noted in the Post report was that this significant Democratic representation contrasts with only two trustees registered as Republicans, suggesting an abundantly clear imbalance in political perspectives within the board. Such an imbalance, critics claim, has led to a governance approach that prioritizes political ideology over effective management of university affairs.
The situation has elicited sharp criticism from several Republican leaders. Speaking to the Post, Representative Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY) has been vocal in her criticism. She stated, “It’s no surprise that the board of trustees for a university allowing woke left-wing ideology and anti-Semitism to fester is made up of Democrat operatives and donors.” This sentiment has been echoed by New York state GOP chairman Ed Cox, who expressed concerns over the board’s judgment being clouded by their political affiliations. The report in the Post said that Cox also drew parallels between the obvious politicization at Columbia and broader national political dynamics involving President Joe Biden’s administration.
The allegations suggest that the board’s political leanings may be influencing its response to campus issues, particularly the anti-Israel encampment, as per the Post report. This situation has not only disrupted academic activities but has also sparked a broader debate about the role of universities as spaces for free expression versus their duty to maintain order and protect all students’ rights. Indicated in the Post report was that critics have argued that the board’s inability or unwillingness to decisively manage the encampment is symptomatic of a deeper governance issue, where political ideologies override practical and balanced decision-making.
The Columbia controversy also focuses on its president, Minouche Shafik. Amid ongoing anti-Israel protests at the Morningside Heights campus, there is growing pressure on President Shafik to resign for not taking stronger actions to address the situation, the Post reported.
Critics argue that her response has been insufficient to curb the disruptions caused by these protests, leading to calls for her resignation. As was detailed in the Post report, the board of trustees, including co-chairs David Greenwald and Claire Shipman have publicly supported Shafik, although their involvement became more pronounced following their recent testimony at a congressional hearing in Washington, DC.
The Columbia controversy also focuses on its president, Minouche Shafik. Photo Credit: AP
On January 18, 2023, Columbia University’s board of trustees announced Shafik’s appointment as president of the university. She became president of Columbia University on July 1, 2023. Her inauguration occurred on October 4, 2023.
After the Israel–Hamas conflict intensified in October 2023, and an altercation concerning an Israeli student leading to legal action, Shafik issued a statement saying that if “speech is unlawful or violates University rules, it will not be tolerated”. While some, including NY Rep. Ritchie Torres, and Rep Kathy Manning, said she should have done more to protect Jewish students from anti-Semitic violence on campus; faculty and graduate workers raised concerns over her decision to suspend pro-Hamas student groups such as Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP) and Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) from the campus for repeatedly violating University policies relating to on campus events.
In November 2023, Shafik was invited to attend the 2023 United States Congress hearing on anti-Semitism, but declined, citing a scheduling conflict. She later gave testimony before the United States House Committee on Education & the Workforce on April 17, 2024, along with David Greenwald and Claire Shipman. Former presidential advisors and consultants Shailagh Murray, Dana Remus, and Philippe Reines, along with lawyers, political officials, and experts on anti-Semitism prepared Shafik for the hearing for months.
As a result of campus protests and the campus occupation by pro-Hamas demonstrators that began on April 17th, Shafik called on the NYPD to clear an encampment established by protesters near the center of the university’s campus, and police arrested more than 100 students on April 22. The same day, she announced that the university had canceled in-person classes to move to hybrid learning. The demonstrations outside Columbia’s campus included pro-Hamas, anti-Semitic hate speech and threats, resulting in protesters targeting some Jewish students.
Claire Shipman, an alumnus of Columbia University, currently serves as the co-chair of its Board of Trustees, as was previously noted. With a background in journalism, authorship, and advocacy for women’s leadership, Shipman is a prominent figure in both media and educational circles.
Claire Shipman, an alumnus of Columbia University, currently serves as the co-chair of its Board of Trustees. Credit: X.com
Shipman’s journalism career is marked by her extensive experience across several major news networks. She spent 15 years at ABC News, where her reporting ranged from politics and international affairs to pivotal social issues. Prior to her tenure at ABC, Shipman was a White House correspondent for NBC News during the Clinton administration, a role that positioned her at the forefront of national political reporting.
As co-chair of Columbia University’s Board of Trustees, Shipman plays a crucial role in shaping policies and guiding the direction of the university. Her leadership position also places her at the heart of educational governance, where her experiences and perspectives can directly influence the next generation of leaders.
David J. Greenwald, another co-chair of Columbia University’s Board of Trustees is also chairman emeritus of the Fried Frank law firm. His professional journey is marked by significant achievements and service in prominent roles, from heading a major law firm to steering committees and boards in various prestigious institutions.
David J. Greenwald, another co-chair of Columbia University’s Board of Trustees is also chairman emeritus of the Fried Frank law firm. Credit: Columbia.edu
Beyond his professional endeavors, Greenwald has made significant contributions to academia and the community. As co-chair of the Board of Trustees at Columbia University, he plays a strategic role in guiding policies of the institution of higher learning. He is deeply involved with Columbia University Law School, serving on the Dean’s Council, and contributes his expertise to shaping the future legal minds.
Greenwald also holds positions on the boards of several major nonprofit organizations, including New York Presbyterian Hospital, the Legal Aid Society, Lenox Hill Neighborhood House, and the Lincoln Center Theater.
The Columbia board of trustees’ political leanings have become a point of contention, especially in light of the ongoing campus issues, the Post report said. Notably, Adam Pritzker, a Columbia trustee and a member of the influential Pritzker family, embodies these connections. The Pritzker family has substantial involvement in Democratic politics and philanthropy, with members holding positions such as the Governor of Illinois and former Secretary of Commerce under President Obama.
Adam Pritzker, a Columbia trustee is also a member of the influential Pritzker family. Credit: Columbia.edu
His family’s engagement in Democratic activism and significant contributions to various social causes have placed him in a notable position to influence both the business and political landscapes.
According to the information provided in the Post report, Pritzker’s cousin, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, is a notable Democratic activist and advocate for bail reform. Another cousin, Jennifer Pritzker is a transgender billionaire and has substantially contributed to universities, medical schools, gender clinics, and nonprofits, promoting gender-affirming medical care and supporting the transgender community. Meanwhile, the Post report also indicated that Penny Pritzker, former Secretary of Commerce under President Obama and now a senior fellow at Harvard Corporation. She has played pivotal roles in both governmental and educational spheres.
These familial ties illustrate a deep-rooted engagement in social issues and Democratic politics, suggesting a shared orientation towards activism and advocacy within the Pritzker family. The report added that this orientation extends to Adam Pritzker himself, who has made substantial contributions to Democratic candidates and causes throughout his career.
Mark Gallogly, an influential figure in finance, politics, and environmental advocacy, embodies the complexities and controversies that often follow high-profile careers bridging diverse sectors. The Post report said that as a vice-chair trustee at Columbia University and a notable Democratic donor, Gallogly’s actions and affiliations paint a detailed picture of a multifaceted individual navigating the intricate worlds of high-stakes investment and political engagement.
– Mark Gallogly is a vice-chair trustee at Columbia University and a notable Democratic donor, Credit: YouTube.com
Parallel to his financial career, Gallogly has been actively involved in politics, primarily through substantial contributions to the Democratic Party. His financial support includes $775,000 donated in the current election cycle alone, alongside significant contributions to the Biden Action Fund and the Democratic National Committee, according to the information in the Post report. Moreover, he and his wife hosted a high-profile fundraiser for President Joe Biden’s re-election campaign, highlighting his active role in political fundraising and Democratic party activities.
Columbia Trustee Jeh Johnson’s career is marked by his significant contributions to national security and law. A Columbia Law School graduate, Johnson served as the Secretary of Homeland Security under President Barack Obama from 2013 to 2017. The Post reported that prior to this, he was the General Counsel of the Department of Defense from 2009 to 2012, where he played a critical role in shaping U.S. defense policies. Since leaving his political post, Johnson has been an active voice in national discussions on homeland security and cybersecurity, often testifying before Congress to share his insights and expertise.
Another notable Columbia University trustee, Joseph A. Greenaway Jr., was appointed as a federal judge in New Jersey by President Bill Clinton in 1996 at the young age of 38. In 2010, he ascended to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit in Newark, New Jersey, following an appointment by President Obama, according to the information in the Post report.
Another notable Columbia University trustee, Joseph A. Greenaway Jr., was appointed as a federal judge in New Jersey by President Bill Clinton in 1996 at the young age of 38. Credit: Harvard Law
Vice chair Abigail Black Elbaum heads Ogden CAP Properties, a prominent real estate firm, and has been involved in philanthropy, particularly in political spheres. Indicated in the Post report was that her contributions include donations to key Democratic figures such as Hillary Clinton and Al Gore.
– Vice chair Abigail Black Elbaum heads Ogden CAP Properties, a prominent real estate firm, and has been involved in philanthropy, particularly in political spheres. Credit: Columbia.edu
As Senior Executive Vice President of Columbia University, Gerald Rosberg is a pivotal figure in the realms of academia, legal practice, and corporate leadership.
– As Senior Executive Vice President of Columbia University, Gerald Rosberg is a pivotal figure in the realms of academia, legal practice, and corporate leadership. Credit: Columbia.edu
Rosberg’s career took a significant turn when he joined The Washington Post Company, where he served for two decades as a senior executive. During his tenure, the company not only dealt with the traditional challenges of a major media conglomerate but also faced the digital transformation that reshaped the industry. His role involved strategic decision-making, long-term planning, and navigating the company through periods of substantial change, including its transition to what is now known as Graham Holdings.
In his current role, Rosberg brings his extensive experience to bear on the university’s strategic initiatives. Working closely with the president and other senior leaders, he focuses on long-term planning and strategic issues, particularly human resources and departmental coordination.
In January 2024, Columbia University welcomed Cas Holloway as its new Chief Operating Officer, a role in which he oversees several critical administrative areas including Facilities and Operations, Human Resources, Columbia University Information Technology, Columbia Health, and Columbia Technology Ventures.
– In January 2024, Columbia University welcomed Cas Holloway as its new Chief Operating Officer, a role in which he oversees several critical administrative areas including Facilities and Operations, Human Resources, Columbia University Information Technology, Columbia Health, and Columbia Technology Ventures. Credit: Columbia.edu
Felice B. Rosan, as the General Counsel of Columbia University, holds a pivotal role where her vast legal expertise significantly impacts the governance and strategic initiatives of one of the leading educational institutions in the world. Rosan’s tenure at Columbia since March 1999 has seen her navigate complex legal terrains, emphasizing university governance, tax-exempt issues, charitable giving, executive compensation, and key developments such as the University’s expansive Manhattanville project.
Felice B. Rosan, as the General Counsel of Columbia University, holds a pivotal role where her vast legal expertise significantly impacts the governance and strategic initiatives of one of the leading educational institutions in the world. Credit: Columbia.edu
The board also includes individuals such as Wanda Holland Greene, an educator with four decades of experience, and Keith Goggin, a former New York Stock Exchange market maker and specialist, according to the Post report.
Columbia U board of trustee Wanda Holland Greene is an educator with four decades of experience. Credit: YouTube.com
Other members of the Columbia board of trustees include Duchesne Drew, a veteran journalist, and Andrew Barth, the retired chairman of a capital market company. Also on the Columbia board of trustees is Kikka Hanazawa, a social entrepreneur in the fashion industry.
Columbia U board of trustee Keith Goggin is a former New York Stock Exchange market maker and specialist. Credit: Columbia.edu
Also speaking to the Post was Rory Lancman, senior counsel for the Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law. He emphasized the responsibility of the board in these circumstances, stating, “The buck stops with the board of trustees.” Noted in the report was that this sentiment reflects growing dissatisfaction with how the Columbia board has managed the crisis, with critics arguing that the trustees should not deflect responsibility onto the university president alone.
Others have pointed fingers at the university’s board, accusing them of liberal bias, potentially tarnishing the institution’s esteemed reputation.
Former Senator Al D’Amato of New York has been vocal in his criticism of the board, describing its members as “ultra-liberal” and blaming them for the university’s inability to control the situation. “The school is out of control. It’s a disgrace. They’ve destroyed the reputation of a great school,” D’Amato told The Post. His harsh words reflect a broader dissatisfaction among certain alumni and political observers who feel that the university’s governance is too ideologically driven, which they argue has led to ineffective decision-making in a time of crisis.
D’Amato’s frustrations culminated in a call for dramatic changes at the top levels of the university’s leadership. “It’s a horror show,” he told the Post, suggesting that the only solution would be to overhaul the university’s leadership by appointing a new president and clearing out the current board.
Adding to the chorus of disapproval is former Brooklyn Assemblyman Dov Hikind, head of the group “Americans Against Anti-Semitism.” Speaking to the Post, Hikind criticized the board for their prioritization of political protection over taking decisive actions. “The board of trustees at Columbia should stop trying to protect Biden,” Hikind expressed to the Post, urging the board to “Do the freakin’ right thing!”
Amidst the growing criticism, The Post reported that attempts to reach board members for comments were largely unsuccessful, with the majority declining to comment individually or not responding. This lack of direct communication from the board members has added to the frustration of critics, who view the silence as indicative of a governance body that is either unwilling or unable to address the pressing issues facing the campus.
As Columbia University continues to grapple with these challenging issues, the actions taken by its board of trustees will likely be scrutinized not just by the university community but by observers across the political and educational spectrum. The resolution of this crisis could have lasting impacts on the university’s reputation, its governance practices, and potentially, its leadership structure. For now, the university remains a battleground where the complexities of academic governance, political ideology, and social justice converge.
