Columbia Honors BDS-Supporting Prof. Plus, Lawsuit Details Disturbing Anti-Semitism in Seattle Public Schools.
THE FREE BEACON'S DAILY NEWS BRIEF
Old habits die hard: It's been three months since Columbia University unveiled a series of policy changes that, if enacted, were meant to launch long-term funding negotiations with the Trump administration. The two sides have reached no agreement during that time, and a Monday announcement from university president Claire Shipman emphasized the sort of decision-making that landed the school in hot water in the first place.
Shipman announced the appointment of Farah Jasmine Griffin to the position of "University Professor," the Ivy League school's "highest academic distinction." Griffin, who has taught literature at Columbia for more than 20 years, is a longtime supporter of the anti-Semitic Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement. In 2016, she signed a faculty petition that accused Israel of "inhumane segregation and systemic forms of discrimination" and called on Columbia to cut ties with companies "that profit from a system that has subjugated the Palestinian people for over 68 years." Last spring, meanwhile, photos appeared to show her serving as a protest marshal at the illegal encampment that plagued Columbia's campus, though Griffin denied doing so.
Columbia senior Lishi Baker questioned the appointment: "I'm all for viewpoint diversity," he told us, "but if Columbia is trying to change the culture on campus, they should reward faculty whose contributions don't come with antisemitism, discrimination, or disruption."
READ MORE: Columbia Bestows ‘Highest Academic Distinction’ Upon BDS-Supporting Professor
Shameful in Seattle: A Seattle public school student was left with "terrifying nightmares and flashbacks" after a mob of classmates waited for her outside of a locked classroom and threatened to physically assault her based on her Jewish identity. District officials "failed to meaningfully intervene."
That's according to a disturbing new lawsuit the student's parents filed against the district. It details months of anti-Semitic incidents, including pervasive harassment and the drawing of swastikas throughout the Hale High School campus. In response, Seattle Public Schools has pledged to "review and address" the allegations and emphasized that it "remains dedicated to creating an inclusive and equitable environment for all students." It has not turned over video footage of the mob that allegedly targeted the Jewish student, claiming that no such footage exists. The plaintiff's lawyers think that's B.S.
"We know that they have cameras because they've also released some other unrelated footage," one of the attorneys, Seth Rosenberg, told us. "They seem to have kept the things that aren't helpful and apparently not kept the things that are."
READ MORE: Jewish Teen Hid in Locked Classroom as Anti-Semitic Mob Pounded on Door: Lawsuit
Play stupid games, win stupid prizes: Shortly after leading a "death, death to the IDF chant" at a British music festival over the weekend, Bob Vylan celebrated the affair by eating "late night (vegan) ice cream" while "zionists are crying on socials." The rap group likely wasn't celebrating on Monday.
The State Department, our Adam Kredo scooped, quickly canceled the group's visas for an upcoming U.S. tour, citing terror support. Around the same time, Sky News reported that United Talent Agency had dropped the group as a client. Life comes at you fast.
"Foreigners who glorify violence and hatred are not welcome visitors to our country," said Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau.
READ MORE: State Department Yanks Visas From Rap Group That Called for Murder of IDF Soldiers
In other news:
Tragedy in Colorado: Eighty-two-year-old Jewish woman Karen Diamond died from the severe injuries she suffered during the anti-Semitic firebombing attack in Boulder, the local district attorney's office said in a statement.
Melting support: Consumer goods giant Unilever "is cutting off millions in funding for Ben & Jerry's charitable foundation after it refused to provide audit documents" over its anti-Israel advocacy, Semafor reported.
Harvard's treatment of Jewish and Israeli students violated civil rights law, the Trump administration wrote in a Monday letter that said the school "has been a willful participant in anti-Semitic harassment of Jewish students, faculty, and staff."
Check out our full Tuesday lineup below.
Columbia Bestows ‘Highest Academic Distinction’ Upon BDS-Supporting Professor
Jewish Teen Hid in Locked Classroom as Anti-Semitic Mob Pounded on Door: Lawsuit
State Department Yanks Visas From Rap Group That Called for Murder of IDF Soldiers
Trump Overhauls Eco Permitting to Fast Track New Roads, Bridges
82-Year-Old Jewish Woman Dies From Injuries Suffered in Anti-Semitic Colorado Terror Attack
Trump Fires Back at Dem Senator: 'I Am Not Offering Iran Anything, Unlike Obama'
Shipman should resign. Enough!
Thank you for publishing. As a Jewish woman married to a Jewish man with 3 children the hate towards us is not surprising. It's all over the world; codified, celebrated, institutionalized.
Germany's schools under Hitler did the same thing in the '30's and via propaganda. We were described as inhuman, devils, children eaters and on and on. My husband and I have relatives murdered on the streets, in their homes and the horrific camps.
We live in America, but plan to move to Israel where we'll feel safe even with the constant attacks and wars.