In the grand tradition of academic responses to a crisis, Columbia University’s President Minouche Shafik has unveiled her master plan to tackle the recent surge in anti-Israel protests and accusations of anti-Semitism: a brand-new committee. This illustrious team, packed with deans, administrators, and faculty members, promises to steer the university through these choppy waters.
However, given that some of these very university figures have been financially backing congresswomen caught up in their own anti-Semitic controversies, one can’t help but wonder if they’re trying to navigate or exacerbate the storm. Federal Election Commission records Over the past three election cycles, Columbia faculty and administrators have contributed upwards of $22,000 to Democratic U.S. Representatives Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib, with nearly $9,000 donated in the current cycle alone. Federal Election Commission records, scrutinized by The Center Square, reveal that at least seven faculty members and a vice dean are among the contributors.
Both Omar and Tlaib have faced allegations of anti-Semitism stemming from their public statements. Omar faced criticism after tweeting, “It’s all about the Benjamins baby,” in response to Israel war with Hamas. She later apologized and acknowledged the need for education on anti-Semitic tropes.
The situation further intensified when Omar’s daughter was arrested during a Columbia protest, resulting in her suspension from the university. President Biden condemned such incidents, denouncing harassment and calls for violence against Jews as reprehensible and dangerous, emphasizing their incompatibility with American values.
Tlaib utilized the slogan “From the river to the sea,” evoking calls for the eradication of Jewish Israelis, leading to censure by the House of Representatives. StopAntisemitism awarded Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib the title ‘Antisemite of the Year.’ Tlaib faced stiff competition but ultimately clinched the dubious honor over contenders like Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh and supermodel influencer Gigi Hadid.
Tlaib went even further, the Congresswoman accused President Biden of supporting “the genocide of the Palestinian people” and urged a ceasefire. Additionally, she has labeled Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a “genocidal maniac” and has condemned the U.S. for its financial support of what she describes as “massacres” in Gaza.
Despite these controversies, the faculty and dean who contributed to Omar and Tlaib remained silent in response to inquiries regarding their donations and whether they regretted them in light of recent events on campus.
Noteworthy among the donors is Rudina Odeh-Ramadan, vice dean of the medical school, who contributed $1,000 to Tlaib’s campaign. Additionally, Patrick Youngblood, a research director at the Labor Lab, allocated $1,000 to Tlaib and $1,750 to Omar. Dr. Blandine LaFerrere, an associate professor of medicine, supported Omar with a donation of $2,800.
Amra Sabic-el-Rayess, an author specializing in the Bosnian genocide and a professor at Teacher’s College, also contributed to both Tlaib and Omar, donating $1,000 and $2,000, respectively.
While some Republicans in Congress have been accused of anti-Semitism, none received donations from Columbia faculty. This discrepancy aligns with the overwhelming support for Democrats among Columbia donors, as evidenced by OpenSecrets.org data indicating that 93% of donations in the 2024 election cycle were directed towards Democratic candidates, down slightly from 97% in 2020.
Clearly, the trend of academic donations leaning left isn’t confined to the ivy-covered walls of Columbia. At New York University, professors and administrators seem to be engaged in a little financial competition, dishing out around $22,000 to Tlaib and Omar alone over three election cycles. With 96% of their cash flowing to Democrats, it’s less of a bipartisan effort and more of a blue-wave sponsorship program.