Columbia University’s leadership exposed for plotting to replace Jewish board member with Arab representative while calling the Jewish trustee a “mole” in shocking emails that reveal deep anti-Israel bias at the prestigious institution.
Key Takeaways
- Columbia University’s acting president Claire Shipman attempted to conceal negotiations with anti-Israel protestors from pro-Israel board member Shoshana Shendelman.
- Shipman explicitly stated she wanted to replace Shendelman with “somebody from the middle east or who is Arab” and agreed the Jewish trustee was a “mole.”
- Rep. Elise Stefanik and Education Committee Chair Tim Walberg have launched an investigation into Columbia for potential Title VI violations and antisemitism.
- The Department of Education has already launched three separate investigations into antisemitic discrimination at Columbia.
- Columbia University’s leadership has been found to have acted with “deliberate indifference” toward harassment faced by Jewish students.
Leadership Caught Undermining Jewish Representation
Explosive communications from Columbia University’s acting president, Claire Shipman, reveal a disturbing effort to replace a Jewish board member with an Arab representative while deliberately excluding her from negotiations with anti-Israel demonstrators. The messages, which have prompted a congressional investigation, show Shipman describing pro-Israel board member Shoshana Shendelman as “extraordinarily unhelpful” and agreeing with vice-chair Wanda Greene’s characterization of Shendelman as a “mole” and “fox in the henhouse.” These revelations come amid growing concerns about antisemitism at the elite university.
“We need to get somebody from the middle east [sic] or who is Arab on our board. Quickly I think. Somehow,” said Claire Shipman.
The urgency with which Shipman sought to replace Shendelman is particularly troubling given the board member’s background. Shendelman, whose family fled persecution in Iran, had been outspoken against antisemitism on campus. In one exchange, Greene directly asked Shipman, “Do you believe that she is a mole? A Fox in the henhouse?” to which Shipman responded with a simple but damning, “I do.” Shipman further instructed Greene to exclude Shendelman from information about ongoing negotiations with campus protesters, citing concerns about leaks.
Congressional Investigation Launched
House Republican Leadership Chairwoman Elise Stefanik and Education and Workforce Committee Chairman Tim Walberg have responded forcefully to these revelations by sending a formal inquiry letter to Shipman. The investigation centers on whether Columbia has created a hostile environment for Jewish students and failed to fulfill its obligations under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Stefanik has specifically criticized Shipman for mocking congressional efforts to expose antisemitism at Columbia, referring to legitimate oversight as “Capitol Hill nonsense.”
“The Committee on Education and Workforce (Committee) is continuing to investigate antisemitism at Columbia University (Columbia), including whether there was or is a hostile environment against Jewish students on Columbia’s campus and whether the university is fulfilling its obligation under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VI) to end any harassment, eliminate any hostile environment and its effects, and prevent any harassment from recurring,” said the lawmakers.
The congressional inquiry also highlights concerns about Columbia promoting Rashid Khalidi, an academic who has reportedly supported terrorist violence, noting this could be particularly harmful to Jewish students. The letter emphasizes that as antisemitism continues to rise across America, university leaders must understand and fulfill their obligations to protect Jewish students. Lawmakers are considering potential legislative changes to create further accountability for campus leaders who fail in this duty.
Pattern of Antisemitism at Columbia
The Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights has already launched three separate investigations into antisemitic discrimination at Columbia. In May, a joint finding by the Department of Health and Human Services and Department of Education concluded that Columbia had “acted with deliberate indifference” toward the severe harassment faced by Jewish students. This pattern of institutional neglect has raised serious questions about the university’s commitment to protecting all students regardless of their religious or ethnic background.
“Throughout the Committee’s investigation, Columbia has continued to be plagued by antisemitic harassment. The Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights has launched three separate investigations into antisemitic discrimination on campus. In May, the Department of Health and Human Services and Department of Education found that Columbia had acted with deliberate indifference toward the severe and pervasive harassment faced by Jewish students at the university,” said the lawmakers.
When contacted for comment, Columbia University claimed the communications were from a challenging period and were being published out of context. However, the university declined to provide any additional context that might explain Shipman’s apparent eagerness to replace a Jewish board member with an Arab one or her characterization of a Jewish advocate as a “mole.” This lack of transparency only deepens concerns about Columbia’s commitment to addressing antisemitism and maintaining fair representation at the leadership level.
