Students occupy Columbia University as Shafik testifies at antisemitism congressional hearing

“One of the issues that we are actively debating now,” she said, “is to actually clarify where language crosses the line from protected speech to discriminatory or harassing speech.”

For some members of Congress, the administration’s answers were not sufficient.

Stefanik on Wednesday pushed Columbia administrators to take stronger action against faculty who have come under fire for rhetoric against Israel.

“With the lack of enforcement, you see the concern that speaking to these professors is not enough,” she said, “and it’s sending a message across the university that this is tolerated, these antisemitic statements from a position of authority by professors in the classroom.”

Shafik testified to five cases of faculty removed from classrooms or dismissed by the university. At least 90 disciplinary measures have been taken to date against students, university officials said.

and Ilhan Omar, D-Minnesota, whose daughter attends Barnard College, called for free speech and protections for pro-Palestinian students.

“What I’m hearing from students and people in my district who go to Columbia,” Bowman said, “is they feel that there’s not the space for divergent opinions or thoughts as it relates to the State of Israel or what’s happening in Gaza right now.”

Back on campus Wednesday, students affiliated with Columbia University Apartheid Divest, a coalition of more than 100 student groups, started pitching a series of green tents at 4 a.m. near the 116th St. campus entrance, according to postings on social media.

Students pledged that the demonstration, called the Gaza Solidarity Encampment, will remain until the university meets their demand to divest Columbia’s finances from companies and institutions that profit from Israel.

But the administration said they need to go. Students posted reports on social media that the NYPD was on campus, and of videos of administrators telling them to disperse and handing out written rules of university conduct.

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