Columbia University's Business School Israeli lecturer Prof. Shai Davidai, who gained attention for his vocal opposition to pro-Palestinian protests on campus, was temporarily barred from entering the university’s premises after he was accused of harassment.
Prof. Davidai claimed he has become a target and is being discriminated against because of his stance against anti-Israeli demonstrations on campus. According to him, the university has not taken action against protesters who used inflammatory language on campus.
Prof. Shai Davidai being barred from the university in April
Columbia University claimed that Prof. Davidai "repeatedly harassed and intimidated University employees in violation of University policy,” leading to the decision to temporarily restrict his campus access.
The institution stressed the restrictions didn’t affect his status as a lecturer or his salary and explained that he must complete a workplace behavior course before he can fully return to his duties.
“Columbia has consistently and continually respected Assistant Professor Davidai’s right to free speech and to express his views. His freedom of speech has not been limited and is not being limited now,” a university spokesperson said.
Prof. David, however, asserted that he is a victim of persecution and incitement due to his opposition to pro-Palestinian protests and that he is verbally attacked by protesters regularly. He claimed the university has not taken measures against these protesters and has even continued to pressure him since he began publicly voicing his protest.
"This is an attempt to silence me," Prof. Davidai said in a video he posted on social media, where e he accused Columbia University’s administration of acting out of political interests and trying to protect supporters of anti-Israeli protests, while he remained suspended from the campus.
This situation follows videos that Prof. Davidai posted on social media showing confrontations between him and senior university officials, during which intense discussions were recorded with campus security officers and Columbia’s chief administrator, Cas Holloway.
In the videos, the Israeli lecturer strongly protested the institution's lack of response to verbal abuse directed at Jewish students during the protests. He also claimed that his attempts to raise these concerns were met with complete disregard.
Prof. Davidai's accusations of selective enforcement have become a sensitive public issue, with his claim that the university discriminates against Jewish faculty or supporters of Israel.
“The only person that got suspended from campus is the Jewish professor speaking up against the protests,” Davidai told Columbia University news outlet Spectator. “Think about all the professors, everything that they’ve done. You know, people that have said and posted horrible things, and yet I’m the only one suspended.”
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