House Committee Accuses Acting Columbia President of Seeking Jewish Trustee Ouster Amid Antisemitism Probe

Claire Shipman, acting president of Columbia University, is facing calls to resign after text messages revealed she sought to remove Shoshana Shendelman, a Jewish trustee and outspoken advocate against campus antisemitism, while recommending the appointment of an "Arab on our board." The messages, obtained by the House Committee on Education and Workforce, show Shipman expressing distrust and disdain for Shendelman, even agreeing to suggestions that Shendelman was a "mole" or "fox in the henhouse." Republican Representatives Elise Stefanik and Tim Walberg criticized Shipman's actions, highlighting the timing amid heightened fear and hostility toward Jewish students on campus following Hamas-led attacks in October 2023. Shipman's remarks have been condemned by the Columbia Jewish Alumni Association, which called her statements offensive and unacceptable. The controversy has prompted a congressional inquiry into whether Columbia University violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act by allowing harassment of Jewish students. Columbia University has responded to the allegations, but pressure continues for Shipman to step down amidst the fallout.