Columbia University trustee Shoshana Shendelman condemned the school’s “lack of moral clarity” and failure to confront anti-Semitism, declaring the university has shown a “disturbing lack of moral clarity” and “tarnished” its reputation “for the foreseeable future.” Her letter, sent Monday to university leadership, called out Columbia’s refusal to enforce Title VI civil rights protections as anti-Israel hostility exploded on campus.
Shendelman’s letter followed the release of private messages from acting president Claire Shipman, who called to replace Shendelman with “somebody from the middle east [sic] or who is Arab.” Shipman also labeled Shendelman “extraordinarily unhelpful” due to her outspoken criticism of campus antisemitism. Shipman has since issued only a private apology.
“It is evident that the ongoing failures have resulted in substantial legal and financial ramifications,” Shendelman wrote. “This is the direct consequence of Columbia’s failure to adhere with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act.”
The trustee demanded a public apology and called for Columbia to “fully accept the Trump administration’s demands regarding antisemitism and Title VI compliance.” Columbia has been under federal scrutiny, facing potential loss of $400 million in funding due to civil rights violations. A university spokesperson said leadership remains committed to combatting antisemitism. However Shendelman concluded that, “the current situation at Columbia is untenable.”
