I saw Columbia University yield to an anti-Semitic mob

Received a text at half-past midnight yesterday from a Columbia undergraduate friend about the attempt to occupy Hamilton Hall.(source)

It was a hectic situation inside.

Some students tried to stop the protesters from breaking into Hamilton, but ended up pushed, grabbed, and later anonymously threatened.

Others dialed 911 due to vandalism and the possibility of a brawl.

Outside, I saw the typical sign-waving students, along with a darkly-clad group of protestors who clearly weren’t Columbians.

They were trying to unlock a campus gate when I approached them, only to be met with insults.

As unthreatening as they sounded, I decided to report their behavior.

However, reporting suspicious activity was not easy due to the outsourced security staff’s lack of response.

After passing another group of protestors, I found that they had broken into John Jay Hall, a first-year dormitory.

While Public Safety denied the break-in, students inside were panicking on social media.

The intruders eventually left, but the university remained silent on the matter.

The evening was spent talking to police officers stationed around campus, who were largely uninformed of the situation.

It was clear that Columbia was politically impotent and bureaucratically inept, struggling to make decisive decisions.

The university’s inaction had consequences, leaving students and the community at risk.

This crisis highlighted Columbia’s failure to act decisively and effectively.

The university’s concern for propriety only prolonged the conflict, increasing the danger to students and the community.

As the situation escalated, outside agitators were able to infiltrate the campus with little resistance.

Columbia’s inability to handle the situation led to the closure of dining halls and libraries, impacting students’ final exams and graduation ceremonies.

It’s clear that Columbia is struggling to function as a university.

This Ivy League tragedy is a result of the university’s focus on reputation and prestige at the expense of its integrity.

As a graduate and witness to this self-destruction, I hope this embarrassment sparks the necessary change.

Luke Seminara is a Columbia University ‘23 graduate working at an educational nonprofit in New York City.