On Saturday night, Jan. 25, the Riverdale Jewish Community Partnership and Conservative Synagogue Adath Israel of Riverdale (CSAIR) hosted “Rising Antisemitism on Campus: The Columbia University Response,” a conversation between David Schizer and Ariela Migdal.
Topics discussed included: Can free speech be protected while preventing discriminatory behavior? If protests are allowed, to what standards should they adhere to? Has there been a double standard enforcing university rules? How can universities better promote intellectual diversity? What are the pros and cons of bringing lawsuits on these issues against universities?
Schizer serves as co-chair of Columbia University’s task force on antisemitism and is the Harvey R. Miller Professor of Law and Economics at Columbia Law School. He served as dean from 2004-2014 and as CEO of the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee from 2017-2019. Migdal, a member of CSAIR, earned her law degree at New York University and clerked on the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, the Israel public defender service in Nazareth, and for U.S. Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer.
Migdal asked if the climate on the Columbia University campus this academic year is better. Schizer responded, “Things have generally gotten better, the protests much less frequent and calmer at the same time. Even as groups that have protests have gotten smaller, the rhetoric has gotten more extreme.”
Schizer described the four students who disrupted a modern history of Israel class taught by Israel historians visiting Columbia. “People have the right to protest; they don’t have a right to get into the way of other people’s education,” he said. Schizer’s task force issued a report listing three principles guiding protests. On free speech rights, “You shouldn’t be saying you have to believe this and you cannot believe that.” The second principle is free speech responsibilities: “My right to speak cannot interfere with others’ right to speak.” The third principle is anti-discrimination, “Universities are welcoming places to people of all backgrounds.”
On lawsuits, Schizer responded, “I think it’s better for the university to address its own problems by people who understand the place; what might work and with respect of the values of the place.”
On intellectual diversity, Schizer stated, “I’m a bit old school. When I teach, I think of my role as opening up people who haven’t thought about it before. I try to give different perspectives and tease out different perspectives.” He continued, “It’s becoming increasingly common, especially among younger faculty members, to view that podium as their soapbox, their opportunity, because their views are so correct, the issues so important, to use the opportunity to tell students what to think. It’s just bad education.”
An audience member asked if he has seen a lack of respect among university students. Schizer attributed this lack of respect for each other as a result of the pandemic. Noting his 27 years at Columbia, “I’ve seen generations of students. I think something happened to these young people when they were walled off from each other for many, many months. When you see some young people treating other young people with remarkable discourtesy, I think they lost the ability to empathize with young people.”
Audience members, concerned for their children, asked if Schizer has seen a shift in Jewish students’ applications. Schizer noted this was the first time in Ramaz history that none of this year’s graduates matriculated at Columbia College.
“From Columbia’s perspective, this is terrible. From my perspective, this is a shame,” said Schizer, who added, “We have to ask the question about our children, what would be the right fit. My sense is that much of the experience my children are having is the same kind people had 10 years ago. The education is wonderful.” Schizer continued, “I think the thing that we ought to do for our children and our grandchildren is to help them make judgments about what school is best for them. Jewish life is an important part of it. It’s an imperative for Jewish and Israeli students to stand up for themselves. I’ve been inspired to see so many young people on campuses who are passionate about this and are very brave.”
Schizer presented to the audience his book titled, “How to Save the World in Six (Not So Easy) Steps; Bringing Out the Best in Nonprofits.” Schizer explained, “I wrote this book because I have a love-hate relationship with nonprofits, which is 98% love.” He continued, “For a nonprofit to be successful, it needs to do two things: figure out the most impactful, cost-effective way to advance our mission. Then, it has to get everybody else on board to do that.” Schizer described it as a combination of analysis and advocacy.
Judy Berger is The Jewish Link Bronx, Westchester and Connecticut community editor.
