Administrators at some of the most influential U.S. universities, including New York University, Yale and Columbia, were trying, but largely failing, to calm campuses devastated by the war in Gaza on Monday.
During Monday’s unrest, which coincided with the start of Passover, protesters called on their universities to reduce financial ties to Israel and its weapons suppliers. Many Jewish students are again distressed by some of the protests and chants that have turned anti-Semitic, and again fear for their safety.
Some faculty members have decried the crackdown on peaceful protests and warned that academia’s mission of promoting open debate feels threatened. Alumni and donors were outraged.
There are also calls in Congress for Columbia University President Nemat Shafik to resign, and Dr. Shafik last week tried to appease some Columbia lawmakers with words and tactics that angered her own campus.
