Anti-Israel Unrest at Barnard College Prompts Jewish Students to Demand Accountability
Barnard College, a women’s college affiliated with Columbia University, has been grappling with escalating anti-Israel demonstrations that have roiled its campus in recent weeks. The unrest has included the occupation of campus buildings, raising concerns among Jewish students about their safety and the college’s response to the situation.
In response to what they perceive as inadequate support from the college administration, Eliana Birman, a Jewish student at Barnard, and her fellow student Shoshana Aufzien have spearheaded an open letter demanding accountability from the institution. The letter, addressed to the Barnard College administration, has rapidly garnered significant support, accumulating nearly 1,300 signatures in a matter of days.
Birman, in an interview with Fox News Digital, explained that the open letter was directly prompted by an email from the Barnard Student Government Association (SGA) that condemned the college’s decision to call in the New York Police Department (NYPD) to address the unrest. The SGA’s letter expressed dismay over the police intervention and accused the college of violating a "long-standing promise" regarding police presence on campus.
Birman expressed her frustration with the SGA’s stance, asserting that it did not accurately represent the sentiments of many Jewish students on campus. She emphasized that she and her peers felt safer with police presence, particularly in light of a recent bomb threat and other emergency situations. Birman argued that preventing the police from entering campus would not contribute to the safety and well-being of the Barnard community.
The NYPD’s involvement stemmed from a bomb threat that occurred on March 5, following hours of anti-Israel demonstrations in Milstein Center, Barnard’s library. The police operation resulted in the arrest of several agitators who refused to vacate the premises. The NYPD confirmed its response to the threat via an X post, advising individuals to avoid the area.
The Barnard SGA, in its Instagram post, vehemently condemned the police presence, alleging that the college had broken a "long-standing promise." However, Birman stated that she was unaware of any such promise made by the college.
In addition to criticizing the police intervention, the SGA letter outlined three specific demands: amnesty for all students involved in the Milstein Library sit-in; good-faith negotiations between senior staff, the SGA, and student protesters; and a restructuring of Barnard’s disciplinary process to include student participation alongside faculty.
The anti-Israel activity at Columbia University, particularly the infamous encampment on the campus quad last spring, has contributed to the current climate at Barnard. Birman believes that the messaging and sentiments from that period continue to influence student agitators. Barnard College, as an official college of Columbia University, shares a close relationship with the institution, and the events at Columbia have reverberated across the Barnard campus.
Birman noted that social media plays a significant role in fueling the unrest, with students repeating information and narratives that have circulated since last spring.
Despite the demonstrations and heightened tensions, Birman stated that she generally felt physically safe walking around the campus, openly displaying her Jewish identity with a dog tag and Star of David necklace. However, she acknowledged that she takes extra precautions during periods of heightened protest activity, being more mindful of her surroundings, interactions, and even eye contact with others.
Overall, Birman expressed dissatisfaction with Barnard’s handling of antisemitism on campus. While she acknowledged that the college has made "great strides" recently, she believes there is still room for improvement. Birman highlighted the importance of explicitly acknowledging the presence of antisemitism and recognizing that the ongoing events constitute a form of hate, intimidation, and unrest within the campus community. She expressed confusion as to why the college has not directly addressed antisemitism in its statements and actions.
As of the publication of this article, Barnard College has not provided a response to Fox News Digital’s request for comment on Birman’s letter and the "promise" mentioned in the SGA’s statement. The situation at Barnard College remains fluid, with Jewish students like Birman and Aufzien continuing to advocate for a safe and inclusive campus environment. The demands for accountability and transparency from the college administration underscore the ongoing challenges and concerns surrounding antisemitism and the handling of anti-Israel protests on college campuses across the nation. The outcome of these demands and the college’s response will be closely watched by students, faculty, and the broader community. The future of campus safety and inclusivity hangs in the balance, requiring a concerted effort to address the underlying issues and foster an environment of respect and understanding.
