Capital District Times

U.S. Representative Elise Stefanik has resumed her criticism of Ivy League institutions, with a recent focus on Columbia University. Before being nominated by President Donald Trump as ambassador to the United Nations in November, Stefanik had previously targeted rich colleges for their approach to combating antisemitism. However, when her nomination was withdrawn to maintain the Republican majority in the House, she intensified her criticism once more.

Over a recent weekend, Stefanik addressed the resignation of Katrina Armstrong, Columbia’s interim president, and criticized the appointment of Claire Shipman, co-chair of the board of trustees, as the new acting president. She expressed skepticism via social media, stating Columbia would soon be seeking another president after Shipman.

During a Sunday interview with Fox News, Stefanik suggested Shipman may not last long in her new role and emphasized her commitment to ensuring higher education institutions are accountable, stating her intent to address antisemitism effectively.

Stefanik gained notoriety for her assertive questioning during congressional hearings on antisemitism, following events associated with the October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel. Such scrutiny contributed to the resignations of presidents at Harvard University and the University of Pennsylvania. Her critique of Minouche Shafik, the former president of Columbia, echoed this stance following pro-Palestinian protests at the university, leading to Shafik’s resignation earlier in August.

Armstrong resigned amidst backlash regarding her response to Trump administration demands, which included threats to freeze $400 million in federal funding. The administration required changes in university policies and department oversight, to which Armstrong initially complied but later appeared to downplay in communications with faculty.

Shipman faces criticism from Stefanik and Virginia Foxx, a key figure in investigating university responses to antisemitism. A recent report accused Shipman of undermining congressional inquiries.

Columbia University released a statement affirming its commitment to student safety and academic integrity amidst the controversy.

The federal stance under the Trump administration included threats to reduce funding for universities accused of promoting antisemitism or supporting Hamas, a group labeled as a terrorist organization by the U.S. This has sparked debates on free speech and raised concerns about the conflation of critiquing Israeli policies with antisemitism.

Other institutional responses include actions taken by Yale and Harvard against staff members accused of problematic affiliations, prompting further scrutiny of university policies regarding academic freedom and political expression.