#columbian university taskforce on antisemitism

[the-garbanzo-annex-jr]

by Jessica Costescu

The report, released Monday, is the task force's first attempt to provide recommendations to Columbia's leaders regarding their response to rising campus anti-Semitism. Student protesters at Columbia have advocated for terror against Israelis. During a pair of January rallies, students cheered on the Iran-backed Houthi terrorists and chanted, "From New York to Gaza, globalize the intifada," and "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be Arab."

The term "intifada" references violent Palestinian uprisings in Israel that featured terror attacks on civilians, including suicide bombings at bus stations and night clubs. Columbia's rules bar students from inciting violence "against members of our community." Still, Columbia's Task Force on Antisemitism said it would not provide guidance on whether phrases such as "Globalize the Intifada" violate those rules, instead encouraging the university's "legal team" to provide "more guidance on this issue."

"Many have heard chants at protests like 'Globalize the Intifada' and 'Death to the Zionist State' as calls for violence against them and their families," the task force wrote in its report. "The University also has said that calls for genocide, like other incitement to violence, violate the rules."

"While we agree with this principle, the application of it should be clarified," the task force continued. "Many of the chants at recent Columbia protests are viewed differently by different members of the Columbia community: some feel strongly that these are calls to genocide, while others feel strongly that they are not. … Since this ultimately is a matter of legal compliance, we do not offer a detailed analysis here."

The report comes months after debate around campus calls for "intifada" rocked the Ivy League.

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