Columbia University continues to face consequences over antisemitic incidents
August 13, 2024
By Ireland Owens | The Center Square
Billionaire and U.S. News & World Report owner Mortimer Zuckerman pulled a hefty sum of donations to Columbia University due to their handling of antisemitism issues on their campus, The Washington Free Beacon reported.
Zuckerman, an avid philanthropist, has a longstanding history of donating to Columbia University as he had pledged 200 million dollars to go toward their Mind Brain Behavior Institute, according to The Washington Free Beacon.
The decision from Zuckerman to stop donating came in light of previous reports of rampant antisemitism instances occurring on Columbia’s campus.
Four Columbia deans have recently been slammed for antisemitic texts that were exchanged by them during a panel at the university, as The Center Square previously reported. These antisemitic texts from the Columbia admin included various disparaging remarks towards several Jewish staff members and students discussing antisemitism during a discussion panel.
Columbia is also one of several colleges in America that has scrutinized by Congress, as Congress announced they are probing antisemitism issues at different colleges, The Center Square previously reported.
Columbia is just one of many college campuses in the U.S. that has experienced rising antisemitism alongside campus protests over the events of Oct 7.
The controversial texts exchanged between the Columbia admin caused a massive uproar in the university’s community, with many calling for disciplinary action to be taken against the involved deans.
Columbia students, faculty, and others recently addressed an open letter to Columbia President Minouche Shafik as well as to board of trustee members urging them to “take action” against the deans who made the antisemitic remarks.