Everyone who watched the last congressional hearings featuring university presidents discussing anti-Semitism on campus remembers that it was Rep. Elise Stefanik who really pressed those presidents into making some awkward answers that helped seal their fate. Two of the presidents at that earlier hearing later resigned. 

So it was a safe bet that she would come prepared today for the hearing featuring representatives from Columbia University. She did not disappoint. In her five minutes of questions she pressed President Shafik over the current status of professor Joseph Massad. In case you've forgotten, Massad wrote a piece on Oct. 8, 2023 expressing how impressed he was with the Hamas attack on Israel a day earlier.

What can motorized paragliders do in the face of one of the most formidable militaries in the world?

Apparently much in the hands of an innovative Palestinian resistance, which early on Saturday morning launched a surprise attack on Israel by air, land and sea. Indeed as stunning videos show, these paragliders have become the air force of the Palestinian resistance.

Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, the major offensive led by Hamas on 7 October, was not expected by anyone...

The sight of the Palestinian resistance fighters storming Israeli checkpoints separating Gaza from Israel was astounding, not only to the Israelis but especially to the Palestinian and Arab peoples who came out across the region to march in support of the Palestinians in their battle against their cruel colonizers...

No less awesome were the scenes witnessed by millions of jubilant Arabs who spent the day watching the news, of Palestinian fighters from Gaza breaking through Israel’s prison fence or gliding over it by air...

Whatever the end of this war brings, the stunning victory of the Palestinian resistance over the Israeli military on the first day of fighting is a historic event both for Israel, as Netanyahu admitted, and for the Palestinians.

Rep. Stefanik started right away by following up on earlier questions asked by Rep. Walberg. "So let me be clear, president, that [professor Massad] was spoken to. Who spoke with him?" Stefanik asked.

"He was spoken to by his head of department and his dean," President Shafik replied.

"And what was he told?" Stefanik asked.

President Shafik said she wasn't in the meeting but the gist was that his language was unacceptable. Rep. Stefanik asked if any other disciplinary action was taken in his case. President Shafik responded, "He has not repeated anything like that ever since." That sounds like a no to me.

Rep. Stefanik asked if he needed to repeat his comments in order to be disciplined for them or for his participation in an unauthorized protest that took place on April 4. Here's the video of Rep. Stefanik's questioning.

.@Columbia has failed to hold antisemitic, terror-supporting professors accountable.

President Shafik has sent a clear message that she will not root out Jewish hate on Columbia’s campus. pic.twitter.com/FViu34XZvl

— Rep. Elise Stefanik (@RepStefanik) April 17, 2024

Some time after that, President Shafik claimed that professor Massad had in fact been disciplined. She said he was removed as chair of an academic committee because of his statements praising Hamas.

🧵On October 8, Professor Joseph Massad described the Oct. 7 brutal terror attack as "awesome" and a “stunning victory.”

He also happens to be the chair of an important academic approval Committee.

Watch as @Columbia President claims: "he is no longer a chair of that… pic.twitter.com/rRU32HQnTv

— House Committee on Education & the Workforce (@EdWorkforceCmte) April 17, 2024

But Rep. Stefanik pulled up the Columbia website and found professor Massad was still listed as chair of that committee. President Shafik immediately started backtracking on her claim that he had been removed and would not commit to removing him when asked.

Antisemitic professor Joseph Massad still appears on @Columbia’s website as chair of the academic review committee even after university President Shafik claimed he was removed.

Her lack of action to combat antisemitism is exactly what has fostered Jewish hate on campus. pic.twitter.com/AM6Kd6xFHt

— Rep. Elise Stefanik (@RepStefanik) April 17, 2024

So it looks like Columbia professors can praise the work of Hamas and the only response is that they get talked to privately by the dean. No wonder students on campus don't seem very worried about holding unauthorized rallies featuring Hamas supporters.

Update: Another exchange from today's hearing. This relates to a glossary handed out to students in the school of social work. 

Columbia’s school of social work orientation glossary defines “Ashkenormativity” as a “system of oppression that favors white Jewish folx.”

The radical Left has turned our universities into hotbeds for antisemitism. pic.twitter.com/OeYQIIve5q

— Jim Banks (@RepJimBanks) April 17, 2024

Is it possible that President Shafik isn't familiar with the word/spelling "folx" which is pretty common DEI speak? I'm guessing she pleaded ignorance to avoid opening yet another can of worms.