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Columbia Grapples with Fallout From President's Promise to Congress

Protests Continue Over Alleged Anti-Semitism

By The Associated Press

NEW YORK — Columbia University is facing backlash after its president promised Congress that the school would investigate allegations of anti-Semitism on campus.

The promise came in response to a letter from 50 Republican lawmakers who accused the university of fostering a hostile environment for Jewish students. The lawmakers cited several incidents, including a 2021 protest in which students chanted "Intifada, Intifada, rise up, fight back" and a 2022 event where a speaker compared Israel to Nazi Germany.

Columbia President Lee Bollinger said in a letter to the lawmakers that the university would investigate the allegations and take "appropriate action." He also said that the university is "committed to fostering a welcoming and inclusive environment for all students, regardless of their religion or background."

However, some students and faculty members have criticized Bollinger's promise, saying that it could lead to a crackdown on free speech. They also argue that the university is already taking steps to address anti-Semitism on campus.

The protests continued on Tuesday, with students sitting on the steps of Hamilton Hall and chanting slogans against the university administration. Some students also held signs that said "Free Speech" and "Stop the McCarthyism."

University administrators and the Manhattan district attorney's office have decades of experience with such demonstrations. Mr. Bragg's office declined to comment on the protests, and a university spokeswoman referred questions to Mr. Bollinger's letter.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries on Tuesday condemned anti-Semitism amid ongoing protests at Columbia University and other campuses.

"Anti-Semitism is a scourge that has no place in our society," Jeffries said in a statement. "We must all work together to combat this hatred and discrimination."

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