It looks like those in the "Liberated Zone" encampment at Columbia University are now the ones calling the shots with campus administrators. On Monday outspoken Jewish professor Shai Davidai learned his access card had been deactivated when he arrived on campus to lead a pro-Israel demonstration. This development comes as the school has struggled to address the rise of antisemitism on campus.
The incident unfolded just before 10 a.m. at the school entrance located on West 117th Street and Broadway when the controversial professor — known for his particularly harsh rebuke of pro-Palestine supporters — attempted to lead an opposing sit-in against the ongoing encampment set up on the campus lawn.
But when Davidai attempted to scan, he found that his card was not recognized — sending him into a rage.
“You support Hamas on campus but me, a professor, you won’t let me on campus?” Davidai roared. “I wish you would let me into my job!”
Columbia University is seemingly letting students do whatever they want on campus as long as they oppose Israel but they just deactivated a Jewish professors access card @ShaiDavidai because apparently being on campus while Jewish breaks the rules. pic.twitter.com/d1i78arQ4p
— Robby Starbuck (@robbystarbuck) April 22, 2024
Davidai indicated that the school’s chief operating officer told him that he was “not allowed on campus because we cannot ensure your safety.”
However, his access card did work when he tried to gain access to the Manhattanville campus where he teaches at the business school. “I was just told by [Holloway] that I am [to be] let on the campus of the business school where I’m teaching tomorrow,” he said, also noting that the administration is “willing to use Jewish brains, but they don’t want to let Jewish people in.”
The professor also brought up the fact that the university has ensured the safety “of the students who are calling on Hamas to target Jewish students.”
Meanwhile, the pro-Hamas crowd at Columbia released a statement defending their actions, which have included violent actions and rhetoric.
'We are student activists at Columbia calling for divestment from genocide. We are frustrated by media distractions focusing on inflammatory individuals who do not represent us. At universities across the nation, our movement is united in valuing every human life,' the statement reads, also complaining that its members 'have been doxxed in the press, arrested by the NYPD, and locked out of our homes by the University.'
The situation at Columbia has grown increasingly intense as pro-Hamas activists have threatened and attacked Jewish students.
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