Among the issues the House covered on Wednesday was a hearing on the problem of antisemitism at Columbia University.
They heard from witnesses from Columbia. We reported how Reps. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) and Tim Walberg (R-MI) grilled the administration over things like a professor praising Hama's Oct. 7th attack as "awesome, astonishing, astounding and incredible." Columbia University President Minouche Shafik said that he had been "spoken to." That's even less than a "strongly worded letter." Stefanik railed that Columbia's "system of rules and enforcement" was "broken."
READ MORE: Columbia University Board Grilled by House of Representatives on Antisemitic Professor
Rep. Jim Banks (R-IN) then grilled Shafik about a document that had been handed out to students at an orientation at the School of Social Work at the University. He asked her about words in the document including "Ashkenormativity," which was defined in the document as a “system of oppression that favors white Jewish folx.”
Columbia’s school of social work orientation glossary defines “Ashkenormativity” as a “system of oppression that favors white Jewish folx.”
— Jim Banks (@RepJimBanks) April 17, 2024
The radical Left has turned our universities into hotbeds for antisemitism. pic.twitter.com/OeYQIIve5q
Banks said the "definition" is based on the assumption that Jewish people come from Western Europe.
Shafik claimed the document came from students, and it wasn't a product of the faculty. But Banks said they let it be handed out to the students--and they weren't doing anything to stop it.
If the Klan came onto the campus during the orientation and handed out invitations, would that be allowable and get no reaction because it "wasn't put out by the University"? That's the crux of the problem here. Certain things they will enforce with their conduct rules, but other things seem to be left hanging out in the wind, depending on the politics.
Banks also asked her about the spelling of "folx," and if that was how Columbia spells the word "folks." What does that mean? he asked.
"They don't know how to spell?" Shafik offered, giggling a little.
That did not amuse Banks, who said he didn't think it was a laughing matter.
She agreed and then said she didn't think that this was the way Columbia spelled the word. I don't know whether she was just trying to duck the question or really thought it was funny, but that will likely come back on her from the folks on the left.
Yet, after she testified to that, people on X posted how the University did have that spelling in various places on their website.
The Columbia University website uses the word "folx" in many places. https://t.co/iXDs2FX4TN pic.twitter.com/R9n2BYINQ5
— Kelley K (@KelleyKga) April 17, 2024
Rep. Jim Banks: “Is this how Columbia University spells the work folks (folx)?”
— Neetu Arnold (@neetu_arnold) April 17, 2024
Columbia president Minouche Shafik: “No”
Ok. So why is folx littered across Columbia’s website? pic.twitter.com/pYjNfZFVB6
He then asked the Board of Trustee members who were present if they thought "Ashkenormativity" was an appropriate term to be used at Columbia. One responded it was "shockingly offensive." Yes, but your school seems to be doing nothing about it.
Banks asked Shafik if she was going to stop this from being handed out again.
She said they would make sure it was not part of the orientation process.
Banks scolded her one last time for not doing anything about it before.
Banks was doubtless cautious with her words about the code of conduct at Columbia, given how the last hearing with college presidents revealed what a problem this was at other Ivy League schools.
Harvard’s Claudine Gay, MIT’s Sally Kornbluth, and UPenn’s Liz Magill all said the statements would depend on “context.”
Gay and Magill have since resigned from their posts following the latter’s dismal performance before Congress and the former facing pressure from her testimony and a subsequent plagiarism probe.
JFC… “Ashkenormativity.”
— Rocky Mountain High (@subsix848) April 17, 2024
Our colleges are even more insane than we thought! https://t.co/UXkYxqWxuP
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