Columbia University released a statement justifying - or, at least, trying to - their continued employment of a professor who openly called the October 7 massacre of some 1,200 Israelis “awesome,” saying they will allow him to teach a course on Zionism this upcoming semester as part of their commitment to “diversity.”
Which, apparently, includes allowing terrorism sympathizers and open antiSemites to teach classes on Jewish history.
Joseph Massad is slated to teach undergrad courses, including History of the Jewish Enlightenment in 19th century Europe and the Development of Zionism, next semester, despite his having penned an article on October 8 - just a day after the deadliest attack on Jews since the Holocaust - on the website Electronic Intifada, in which he called the massacre “astounding,” and “awesome.”
"The sight of the Palestinian resistance fighters storming Israeli checkpoints separating Gaza from Israel was astounding, not only to the Israelis but especially to the Palestinian and Arab peoples who came out across the region to march in support of the Palestinians in their battle against their cruel colonizers.”
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"No less awesome were the scenes witnessed by millions of jubilant Arabs who spent the day watching the news, of Palestinian fighters from Gaza breaking through Israel’s prison fence or gliding over it by air," he added.
Columbia University said in a statement that Massad’s words “created pain for many in our community and contributed to the deep controversy on our campus.”
Even still, the university said it will “remain committed to principles of free expression and the open exchange of viewpoints and perspectives through opportunities for constructive dialogue and understanding throughout our campus community, and we seek to provide a learning environment and classrooms that promote intellectual inquiry and analytical thinking along with civility, tolerance, and respect.”
"Professor Massad’s class is one of three courses Columbia students can elect to take next semester on the subject of Zionism and the history of Israel, two of which are offered through Columbia’s Institute for Israel and Jewish Studies. Professor Massad's class is limited to 60 students and is not a required course," the school continued.
No - it’s just an indoctrination camp for antiSemites, barbarians, and future terrorists.
The school’s defense of Massad and his continued employment at the university has already resulted in at least one resignation. International and public affairs adjunct professor Lawrence Rosenblatt quit earlier this week, writing in a letter to the school that allowing Massad to teach a class on Zionism is akin to letting a white supremacist teach a class on racial equality.
“While Massad has a right to think what he thinks and speak what he believes, Columbia has a responsibility to teach objectively and fairly,” wrote Rosenblatt. “At best, perhaps one could tolerate a class on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict co-taught from the many diverse Israeli and Palestinian perspectives, though not by someone who advocates for the eradication of a group of people.”
In case you were wondering, Columbia University receives more than $1.2 billion in government funding - also known as forcibly confiscated tax dollars - through grants to help run their little Hamas boot camp. Enjoy that thought while you scrounge up Christmas money this year.