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Outspoken professor from Colombia. Shai Davidai banned from campus

Shai Davidai, an outspoken business professor from Columbia, was banned from campus after confronting noisy anti-Israel protesters and clashing with school officials last week, on the first anniversary of the attack Hamas’ murderous attack against the Jewish State on October 7.

The Ivy League school sent Davidai’s lawyer a letter saying the professor’s access to the school was cut off at 3 p.m. Tuesday because Columbia executives claimed he had harassed at least five members of the faculty during the noisy scene, thereby violating school rules.

“Threats of intimidation, harassment, or other threatening behavior by university employees, including faculty members, will not be tolerated,” the school said in the letter provided by Davidai to Post.

Shai Davidai, assistant professor at Columbia Business School Instagram / Shai Davidai

The Israeli native, who is conducting research and not teaching this semester, is not suspended and can return to campus after completing his workplace conduct training and complying with university policy. school, Columbia said in its letter.

He can still advise students remotely, the school said.

University officials cited videos taken by Davidai and posted on social media, which showed him challenging school leaders to subdue noisy anti-Israel protesters, to no avail as he came face-to-face with students dressed in keffiyehs.

In one video, he and Patrick Oakley, a top public safety official at the school, walked back and forth with Davidai appearing to pick up Oakley’s ID badge from around his neck to get a better look.

“They blocked my movements and you don’t do anything,” Davidai said of the protesters, with Oakley insisting: “No, you step on them.”

Cas Holloway, Columbia University’s chief operating officer, confronted Assistant Professor Shai Davidai outside the university gates after his access credential was revoked on April 22, 2024. Laura Brett/Zuma Press Wire

“You are not keeping Jews safe,” Davidai retorted.

Davidai, who taught at Columbia for five years, told The Post late Tuesday that the school’s action was “nothing more than retaliation.”

“It broke me,” he admitted. “This shows how Colombia is run by small individuals.”

He said claims that he harassed or intimidated school officials were “crazy,” while asserting that the Ivy League school did not impose the same discipline on anti-Israel students and to professors who advocated violence against the Jewish state.

“This is hypocrisy to the nth degree,” he said.

Davidai, who taught at Columbia for five years, told The Post late Tuesday that the school’s action was “nothing more than retaliation.” Matthew McDermott

“There are teachers who participated or taught in the camp,” he said. “Not a single professor has been fired or suspended since October 7 for anti-Semitism and supporting terrorism. »

This includes controversial professor Joseph Massad, who called the October 7 massacre “brilliant” the next day.

“He was never suspended from anything,” Davidai said.

Davidai also blasted the school in a social media video, directing most of his anger at Columbia COO Cas Holloway, who he said could “fuck off.”

The Ivy League school sent Davidai’s lawyer a letter saying the professor’s access to the school was cut off at 3 p.m. Tuesday because Columbia executives claimed he had harassed at least five members of the faculty during the noisy scene. Matthew McDermott

He said he was supposed to be on campus Tuesday for an Oct. 7 memorial organized by Jewish students before his attorney informed him of the school’s ban.

“It is shocking that after everything that has happened, including the resignation of its president, the leadership of Columbia University continues to silence and penalize members of the Jewish and Israeli community while protecting pro-terrorist groups,” Davidai’s lawyer, Mark Lerner, told the Post.

The school has faced numerous upheavals over the past year, including anti-Israel protesters who occupied a school building and set up an encampment on campus grounds.

A group of about a hundred flag-waving anti-Israel protesters from Columbia University marched in Manhattan on April 19, 2024, with Susan Sarandon showing her support. Paul Martinka

Former President Minouche Shafik suddenly resigned over the summer.

Davidai has certainly been an outspoken staff member, criticizing the school for not doing more to protect Jewish students during anti-Israel protests.

“I feel broken,” he said Tuesday, while emphasizing: “I’m not stopping the fight, because it’s not about me.”

“I am not a provocateur. My goal is not to provoke or get a reaction, but to initiate change,” he added.