Protest camp, arrests, visit from politicians: the mood at Columbia University in New York is heated. The debate over the war in Gaza is becoming more and more of a problem for teaching.
On Wednesday afternoon, countless students wait on the steps in front of the library at the renowned Columbia University in Manhattan. Mike Johnson, the speaker of the US House of Representatives, has announced his presence.
The Jewish student Ben thinks it’s great that the Republican is coming. He is angry about what is going on on campus: Jewish Zionist students have experienced “so much pure vile hatred” against them in the last few weeks.
Opinions differ
Three students are standing next to Ben – listening to him, shaking their heads and wanting to leave. And then speak into it ARD-Microphone. As a Jewish student on campus, one of them says she wants to say something. “I think the fundamental disagreement is whether it is anti-Semitic to be against the war and its kind.”
In her opinion, this is a “dangerous and problematic” narrative. “As long as we think this is anti-Semitic, the protests shouldn’t take place,” she says. But she doesn’t think that’s the case.
Not far from the protest camp, a memorial to the Israeli hostages has been erected on campus.
University President invited before Congress
There have been protests against the Gaza war on campus for months. 13 students and two teachers were suspended for “improper behavior.”
The president of the elite university, Minouche Shafik, had to answer for the events in Congress last week. She defended herself that the protests were not labeled as anti-Jewish protests.
More than 100 arrests
While Shafik was being questioned in Congress, a protest camp sprung up on her New York campus. Students set up tents there and hung homemade pro-Palestinian posters.
Within hours, Shafik decided to have the camp evacuated for security reasons. US media report that colleagues advised her against doing so due to the US understanding of freedom of expression. In the end there were more than 100 arrests.
A day later, the young people returned to their camp. This also applies to the German student Marlon. When asked about the protests, he said they were here because they were critical of Israel – but “certainly not anti-Semitic.” He is also tired of hearing this accusation. “And I have to tell you one thing: Our Jewish friends in particular are tired of it.”
A group of Jewish students show their solidarity with Gaza in the protest camp and celebrate Passover.
Jewish donor put support on hold
Marlon and the others are calling for a ceasefire, a stop to US aid to Israel, no more cooperation with Israeli universities and that Columbia University disclose which – possibly war-related – companies it invests in.
In addition to tuition fees and state funds, the elite university also depends on large donations. A Jewish donor has temporarily put his support on hold.
teaching operation security reasons changed
There have been protests both on and off campus since the weekend. There are also said to have been calls for hatred and violence. A German theology student who wishes to remain anonymous says that people who don’t even belong to Columbia come to the campus. “You don’t know who’s coming and what they’re saying.”
For security reasons, the university quickly switched some of its teaching operations to online teaching. The German finds that difficult: “There’s a difference between: I feel uncomfortable and I feel unsafe.” And also feeling unsafe and actually being in danger would be two different things.
Johnson: Don’t leave Jewish students alone
During his campus visit yesterday, Johnson assured that “neither Israel nor the Jewish students would be left alone.” He was not the first politician to come – in this turbulent time a few months before the US election.
Mike Johnson, Speaker of the House of Representatives, speaks to students at Columbia University.
Both parties are particularly courting young voters. The aspiring theologian expresses what many students think about it: politicians are trying to make a name for themselves with one side or the other.
The night before last it looked like the camp would be evacuated. Many of the tents are now scheduled to be dismantled by Friday. Anyone not attending the university should leave the premises. Columbia University said yesterday it was committed to dialogue and was not planning any further raids.
Charlotte Voß, ARD New York, tagesschau, April 25, 2024 10:58 a.m