Behind Closed Doors at Columbia
EXPOSED: V24 exposes shocking undercover footage revealing Columbia University’s Edward Said Professor Rashid Khalidi encouraging students to evade official channels, avoid campus surveillance, and escalate protests against Israel — spotlighting deep institutional bias and a campus culture of radical activism.
Stefan Tompson
Apr 15, 2024 - 1:15 PM
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V24's first in a series of undercover investigative reports exposes alarming anti-Semitic bias at Columbia University. This exposé reveals how faculty, including Professor Rashid Khalidi, encourage radical activism and bypass official channels.
Columbia Professor Caught Urging Anti-Israel Protests
Recent recordings from Columbia University capture candid conversations with faculty members about ongoing student activism related to Israel and Palestine. Among those featured is Rashid Khalidi, the Edward Said Professor of Arab Studies and formerly associated with the Palestinian press agency WAFA in Beirut.
In the discussions, Khalidi expresses frustration with institutional constraints on activism and highlights the influence of trustees and donors, whom he suggests support a pro-Israel agenda within the university. He comments on the difficulties faced by student activists, including surveillance concerns and restrictive communication channels.
Khalidi also notes a growing movement among students and faculty critical of Israeli policies, describing this as part of a broader generational shift. The university’s official response to protests and the formation of an anti-Semitism task force are viewed by some involved as influenced by external political and financial pressures.
The conversations shed light on the complex dynamics between campus activism, institutional governance, and broader political debates surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Guidance to Evade Official Channels
In the footage, Khalidi expresses concern about surveillance on campus, advising activists to avoid using university email systems and to rely instead on personal communication methods. “They’ve instituted a police state, and police states usually surveil,” he warns, suggesting that pro-Palestinian students should assume they are being monitored. His counsel reflects a deep distrust of the university's neutrality and its willingness to protect student activism.
Khalidi also advocates for sustained direct action. He encourages persistent demonstrations to pressure university leadership. He contends that pro-Israel advocates, lacking moral or legal high ground, resort to silencing opposition, and thus only ongoing, disruptive protest can counterbalance that power.
Khalidi on Columbia’s Leadership
Khalidi criticizes Columbia University President Minouche Shafik’s leadership, portraying her as isolated and heavily influenced by external donors and trustees whose interests align with pro-Israel policies. He suggests that these powerful actors shape campus policy in ways that marginalize pro-Palestinian and Arab students, leaving their concerns largely unaddressed.
He further highlights a shift in campus opinion since his arrival in 2003, noting that support for Israel was once more widespread among students and faculty. According to Khalidi, this change has led pro-Israel advocates to adopt increasingly aggressive tactics, such as exerting pressure on university governance and advancing policy reforms, that, under the pretext of combating antisemitism, effectively suppress Palestinian activism.
A Vision of Long-Term Change
Khalidi frames generational change as central to shifting perceptions of Israel’s policies. He believes that older generations of supporters will gradually give way to younger, more critical voices. He points to increasing solidarity with the Palestinian cause among students, union members, and broader segments of American civil society as signs of evolving public opinion.
At the same time, he warns that this transformation will be complex and gradual. Khalidi highlights the powerful external influences, such as evangelical Christian supporters of Israel, that extend well beyond campus boundaries, underscoring the challenges ahead. Nevertheless, he remains optimistic that the momentum is moving toward greater recognition of Palestinian rights and a decreasing tolerance for what he views as Zionist dominance in academic spaces.
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Stefan Tompson
Founder | Visegrad24