An alumna of Barnard College, one of Columbia’s four undergraduate colleges, is watching the anti-Israel protests and general unrest at Columbia University with a heavy heart.
Dozens of students were arrested and suspended at Yale and Columbia universities after anti-Israel protesters set up encampments on campus in the past week. The anti-Israel protests at Columbia even prompted school officials to allow students to attend classes virtually starting on Monday, the first day of Passover.
Rabbi Elie Buechler, a rabbi associated with Columbia University’s Orthodox Union Jewish Learning Initiative on Campus, recently warned Jewish students to stay home as the campus atmosphere grows increasingly unwelcome.
“The events of the last few days, especially last night, have made it clear that Columbia’s Public Safety and the NYPD cannot guarantee Jewish students’ safety in the face of extreme antisemitism and anarchy,” Buechler wrote. “It deeply pains me to say that I would strongly recommend you return home as soon as possible and …