PEN America Cancels Award After Writers' Boycott Over Gaza
TimeApr 21
Columbia Pro-Israel Professor's Campus Access Restricted
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The Facts
Columbia University on Monday deactivated the identification card of Shai Davidai, an assistant professor at its Business School, in response to his plans to hold a protest on the main Morningside campus.
The Israeli-born Jewish professor had planned to hold a "peaceful sit-in" in opposition to pro-Palestine demonstrators who have occupied the main lawn to demand Columbia support a cease-fire in Gaza and divest funds in Israel.
The Spin
Narrative A
Davidai is being punished for calling out Columbia's policies, which tend to favor support for the Palestinians and do little to address rampant campus antisemitism. Limiting his ability to counter-protest — while allowing the pro-Palestinian protesters to construct a tent city — is a clear violation of Davidai's rights.
Narrative B
Davidai isn't banned from campus — he's being restricted from certain areas for his own safety. By harassing students for their political views, he violated university policies, abused his power, and posed a threat to the university community, attempting to ignite post-Oct. 7 campus tensions. He was rightly restricted from the type of protest he was planning.