(ConservativeJournal.org) – Columbia University is in crisis mode as tensions rise among students and officials ahead of Passover. A rabbi associated with the university advised Jewish students to stay home due to constant confrontations on campus.
To address the current aggressive atmosphere, Columbia officials have allowed students to attend classes virtually. The situation has gotten even worse since the attack on Israel by Hamas last October and there are fears of escalation due to approaching Passover.
Recent events on campus have made tensions even higher. Both Jewish students and pro-Palestine supporters have clashed multiple times over the conflict. Republican representatives are calling for university leadership to step down, saying that they are failing to control the campus and the situation is getting out of hand.
The crisis at Columbia has also gotten attention from the White House and local officials, who both spoke against targeting students with antisemitic remarks or violence. President Joe Biden and others have denounced the harassment and called for a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul and Mayor Eric Adams have likewise condemned antisemitism. They pledged to ensure the safety of all students, vowing to protect them from harassment and violence. As one of the precautions, there is an increased amount of police security around the campus as of Monday, April 22.
In response to concerns about student safety, Rabbi Elie Buechler advised Jewish students to go home and attend virtual classes. He expressed doubts about how much campus security and the NYPD can help to ensure their safety. Buechler’s comments show that the situation is reaching a dangerous point, and that more needs to be done to ensure the safety of everybody on site.
Organizers of the protests on campus have emphasized their commitment to peaceful demonstrations. They are distancing themselves from any people who incite violence. They also reaffirmed that they are protesting Zionism and not Jewish people themselves.
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