Columbia University ‘expediting’ investigation into Israeli history class disruption

The Ivy League university, an epicenter for protests last year, says it is “expediting” its investigation into a group who disrupted a class on Israeli history Tuesday.

Columbia University says it is “expediting” its investigation into a group who disrupted a class on Israeli history Tuesday. Demonstrators handed out flyers with “violent imagery” to students attending a History of Modern Israel class, the university said in a statement. It was the first day of Professor Avi Shilon’s class, and students had only just been introduced to the course when protesters – whose faces were covered and appeared to be wearing keffiyehs, a traditional Middle Eastern scarf often identified as a symbol of Palestinian identity – entered and distributed anti-Israel leaflets, student Elisha Baker told CNN. One flyer shows a burning Israeli flag underneath the words “Burn Zionism to the Ground,” and another depicts a large black boot about to stomp on the Jewish Star of David and reads “Crush Zionism,” according to pictures taken by Baker. “It was shocking for everyone in the class,” said Baker, a junior studying Middle Eastern history. “I’m still super excited for this class. It’s a shame that this incident is going to put us on edge inside the classroom.” As a result of the interruption, Columbia said it is intensifying its investigative efforts to identify the individuals involved as well as modifying its security measures. The school said it did not know if the demonstrators were students.