Columbia University senior Maryam Alwan was accused of harassment by the university’s new disciplinary committee after writing an op-ed in the student newspaper supporting divestment from Israel. The Office of Institutional Equity has sent notices to dozens of students for activities related to criticizing Israel, including sharing social media posts and hosting protests. Students accused of harassment face sanctions ranging from warnings to expulsion.
Critics, including students, faculty, and free speech advocates, are concerned that the university is caving to governmental pressure and suppressing protected speech. The new disciplinary office was created last summer and operates in secret, requiring students to sign non-disclosure agreements. The committee has been accused of targeting pro-Palestinian speech and falsely accusing students of misconduct.
The scrutiny on Columbia comes amid financial pressure and threats of funding cuts from federal agencies due to allegations of harassment of Jewish students. House Republicans have also launched a review of the disciplinary process. The situation has reignited pro-Palestinian protests on campus, with students occupying buildings in protest of the expulsion of two students involved in disrupting an Israeli history class.
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