Columbia Alumni Spar over Gaza Protest Remarks
A Columbia Journalism School alumnus, Norman Green, ignited a heated dispute among alumni last week with his dismissive remarks about campus protesters demonstrating against the conflict in Gaza.
Green, who graduated from the school in 1996, labeled the protesters as “murderous crackpots” and “pro-terror wack jobs” on a Facebook thread, drawing immediate backlash from other graduates who condemned his perspective as “hateful” and “delusional.”
In a phone call with The Daily Beast, Green defended his comments, arguing that they were intended to denounce calls for violence against Jewish people. However, his fellow alumni expressed deep concern over his characterization of peaceful protesters and the implications of his rhetoric.
The incident has further inflamed tensions on campus, where protests have been ongoing for weeks over the university’s investments in companies linked to Israel. Columbia University President Minouche Shafik responded by calling for a “reset” and temporarily holding classes virtually to “deescalate the rancor” and facilitate dialogue.
The White House has condemned the escalating protests, labeling them as “antisemitic” and “dangerous.” Similar encampments have emerged at other universities across the country, raising concerns about the potential for further conflicts on college campuses.
