Federal judges to ‘boycott’ Columbia students over protests

(The Center Square) — More than a dozen federal judges are pledging not to hire students from Columbia University over its handling of the pro-Palestinian protests on campus, saying the elite school has become an “incubator of bigotry” against Jewish people.

In a letter to Columbia President Minouche Shafik, the 13 judges said they would no longer hire undergraduates or law students from the university beginning with the incoming class of 2024 this fall.

The judges said the elite university, which canceled its main graduation ceremony because of the unrest, allowed the “virulent spread of antisemitism” during the protests until they were broken up by the New York Police Department last week.

“Freedom of speech protects protest, not trespass, and certainly not acts or threats of violence or terrorism,” the judges wrote. “It has become clear that Columbia applies double standards when it comes to free speech and student misconduct.”

The letter was signed by federal appellate judges James Ho and Elizabeth Branch, who previously led a clerkship boycott of Yale Law School and Stanford Law School in response to a string of incidents in which conservative speakers were shouted down.

- Advertisement -

Overall, the judges said Columbia’s handling of the demonstrations shows that it “has destroyed its ability to train future leaders of a pluralistic and intellectually diverse country.”

“By favoring certain viewpoints over others based on their popularity and acceptance in certain circles, Columbia has failed as a legitimate, never mind elite, institution of higher education,” they wrote.

The signatories, which include Judge Matthew Solomson of the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, noted that former Supreme Court Justice William Brennan had refused to hire law clerks from Harvard Law School because he disliked criticisms of the high court by some of its faculty.

“The objective of our boycott is different — it is not to hamper academic freedom, but to restore it at Columbia University,” they wrote.

The demonstrations at Columbia were part of a wave of anti-Israel protests that have swept U.S. college campuses over the past week in response to Israel’s war in Gaza, which was prompted by the Oct. 7 attack by the terrorist group Hamas that killed 1,200 Israelis and injured many others. Hamas also took hostages, many of whom are still in captivity.

Dozens of arrests have been made at Columbia University, Harvard, Yale, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and other elite schools as campus police and law enforcement have been called in to take down the make-shift encampments, which violate school policies. Nearly 2,000 people have been arrested at 30 college campuses, according to published reports.

- Advertisement -

The judges outlined steps Columbia needs to take to “reclaim its once-distinguished reputation,” including “serious consequences” for students and faculty who have participated in a campus encampment and demonstrations and “dramatic change in the composition of its faculty and administration” at the university.

Besides support from conservative judges, Columbia is also beginning to lose some of its most prominent patrons, with New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft pledging to stop contributing to the university, citing “virulent hate” during the pro-Palestinian protests.

Jewish billionaires Leon Cooperman and Henry Swieca have also cut ties with the university, according to published reports. Swieca, founder of Talpion Fund Management who got his MBA at Columbia, argued in a letter that the school’s reputation and integrity have been “significantly compromised by a moral cowardice that appears beyond repair.”

Hot this week

African and Caribbean Nations Call for Reparations for Slave Trade, Propose Global Fund

Nations across Africa and the Caribbean, deeply impacted by...

Sports betting expert offers advice on paying taxes for gambling winnings

(The Center Square) – Tax season is underway, and...

Health care company agrees to pay $22.5 million to settle claims of over billing

A health care company agreed to pay nearly $22.5...

Entertainment district benefits don’t outweigh the cost, economists say

(The Center Square) — Weeks later, after more details...

Business association ‘disappointed’ by WA L&I’s proposed workers comp rate hike

(The Center Square) – The Association of Washington Business...

Bill would adjust eligibility, add loan forgiveness to housing discrimination remedy

(The Center Square) – Supporters of Washington state's new...

Ohio Senate sends higher ed bill to House

(The Center Square) – A plan to ban diversity,...

Judge clears path for Trump to buy out 75,000 federal employees

(The Center Square) – A federal judge has cleared...

Illinois quick hits: United plane makes emergency landing at O’Hare

United plane makes emergency landing at O'Hare ...

After letter, Georgia State to allow pastor to share faith on campus

(The Center Square) – Georgia State University reversed its...

Democrats react to Trump policies, promise disruptions

(The Center Square) – Colorado Democrats continue to push...

Trump-endorsed candidate enters Arizona gubernatorial race

By Zachery Schmidt | The Center Square contributor ...

More like this
Related

Bill would adjust eligibility, add loan forgiveness to housing discrimination remedy

(The Center Square) – Supporters of Washington state's new...

Ohio Senate sends higher ed bill to House

(The Center Square) – A plan to ban diversity,...

Judge clears path for Trump to buy out 75,000 federal employees

(The Center Square) – A federal judge has cleared...

Illinois quick hits: United plane makes emergency landing at O’Hare

United plane makes emergency landing at O'Hare ...