Decades of discord꞉ What makes the Israel-Palestine debate uniquely persistent, and personal
KATE HUANGPU
Columbia Spectator
Fri Dec 07 2018
...Unlike many controversial political topics, the Israel-Palestine conflict is one of the few issues on which Columbia’s liberal-leaning community is polarized. For decades, the debate has permeated discussions across multiple facets of campus, including student government, academic settings, and apolitical clubs—even aspects of students’ personal lives.
Most significantly, interviews with over three dozen students and faculty show that due to the pervasive nature of these discussions, community members fear social or academic repercussions if they associate with a particular stance in the debate. As a result, students in particular highlighted their discomfort with even being a member of certain clubs or taking certain classes.
Moreover, students from all sides of the debate have criticized the administration for its stance in light of heightened tensions and increased advocacy, voicing safety as a primary concern and calling on the University to take steps to address potential threats....
