{"id":2196726,"date":"2024-03-11T16:49:02","date_gmt":"2024-03-11T20:49:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/former-soros-foundation-official-accused-of-indoctrinating-columbia-students-to-hate-israel\/"},"modified":"2024-03-11T16:53:58","modified_gmt":"2024-03-11T20:53:58","slug":"former-soros-foundation-official-accused-of-indoctrinating-columbia-students-to-hate-israel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/former-soros-foundation-official-accused-of-indoctrinating-columbia-students-to-hate-israel\/","title":{"rendered":"Ex-Soros Foundation official accused of promoting anti-Israel sentiment at Columbia"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fformer-soros-foundation-official-accused-of-indoctrinating-columbia-students-to-hate-israel%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2196726&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><h2>Former Director at Open Society Foundations Now \u200ba Tenure-Track Professor at Columbia\u2063 University<\/h2>\n<p>A former director at George\u200c Soros&#8217;s Open Society Foundations\u200d has taken on a new role as a tenure-track public\u200d health professor at Columbia \u200cUniversity. In a video recording obtained\u200d by the <em>Wall Street Journal<\/em>, the\u2063 professor, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.publichealth.columbia.edu\/profile\/kayum-ahmed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Kayum\u2064 Ahmed<\/a>, can be seen engaging students in a call-and-response exercise during a\u200c lecture.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>&#8220;What do we\u200c want?&#8221; Ahmed yelled. &#8220;Justice!&#8221;\u200b the students \u2063responded.\u2063 &#8220;If \u2064we don&#8217;t get it?&#8221; he \u200casked. &#8220;Shut it down!&#8221; the students were \u200binstructed\u2063 to respond.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>However, Ahmed is \u2062facing accusations\u200c of indoctrinating \u2062his \u200dstudents with anti-Israel \u2062sentiments. According to the <em>Journal<\/em>, he\u200d labels Israel as a &#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/unc-activists-want-minority-student-recalled-from-position-of-power\/\" title=\"UNC Activists Want Minority Student Recalled From Position Of Power\">colonial settler state<\/a>&#8221; that has oppressed indigenous\u200c populations and displaced Palestinians, leading to health consequences.<\/p>\n<p>A graduate student who took\u200d Ahmed&#8217;s class told \u2064the <em>Journal<\/em>, &#8220;He puts\u200c the idea into everyone&#8217;s head that the Jews stole the land and it should belong to the indigenous people.&#8221; This rhetoric \u200bhas raised concerns among students and faculty members who\u2064 believe Ahmed is \u200dpromoting a pro-Palestinian bias and spreading\u2063 disinformation.<\/p>\n<p>This incident is reflective \u2063of the anti-Israel and anti-Semitic beliefs that some prominent Ivy League\u2063 faculty members have been advancing since Hamas&#8217;s attack on\u2062 Israel. Jewish students \u2062often find themselves subjected to these beliefs, even against their will.<\/p>\n<h3>Controversial \u200bViews on COVID-19 and Israel<\/h3>\n<p>In \u2062a 2021\u2063 article, Ahmed argued\u200d that\u2062 the COVID-19 pandemic could create a dystopian society of the &#8220;unvaccinated,&#8221; including prisoners, Palestinians, and those affected by armed conflict. He claimed that Israel weaponized the vaccine by denying vaccinations to\u2063 Palestinians. However, Israel later reached a vaccine exchange agreement with the Palestinian \u2063Authority,\u200b which was \u200dsubsequently canceled.<\/p>\n<p>Ahmed\u2064 has a history of expressing such beliefs, including during\u2063 his time as head of Open Society Foundations&#8217; \u200cpublic health portfolio. \u200dIn a\u2062 2019\u2062 address at an elite New York City private school, he invoked the Holocaust to argue that Jews have\u200c become oppressors themselves.<\/p>\n<p>These remarks were deemed &#8220;outrageous&#8221; by Anti-Defamation League CEO Jonathan Greenblatt. However, they\u2064 did not hinder Ahmed&#8217;s academic career. Columbia University promoted him from \u200da law school \u200blecturer\u200b to an assistant professor in public\u200c health, putting \u2063him on track for \u2064tenure.<\/p>\n<h3>Response and Repercussions<\/h3>\n<p>Ahmed\u200d has not\u2064 responded to requests \u200dfor comment. In a statement to the <em>Journal<\/em>, \u200dhe \u200ddismissed \u200dhis \u2063critics as &#8220;a\u2064 handful of privileged, white students&#8221; who have not been challenged to think\u200d critically about the benefits \u200dthey\u2062 derive from systems of \u200boppression.<\/p>\n<p>Columbia University&#8217;s public health school spokesperson emphasized the school&#8217;s commitment to \u200ca balanced perspective and stated that they take concerns about class content seriously. They are \u200bcurrently working with \u2062their educational \u200dcommittee and faculty to \u2064reinforce their\u200c educational principles and values.<\/p>\n<h3>Background and Publications<\/h3>\n<p>Ahmed joined Columbia University as a &#8220;lecturer in law&#8221; in\u2062 2017 and later became an assistant public health\u2062 professor. He previously worked at \u2063Open Society Foundations, leading their global portfolio on access to \u200dmedicines and innovation. Ahmed is also the\u200d author of <em>A is for Amandla! The ABC Guide for Young Revolutionaries [and their parents]<\/em>, a book that promotes radical ideas and\u200c encourages children to support various \u2063social justice causes.<\/p>\n<p> <\/p>\n<h2> In \u200cwhat ways does\u2063 Ahmed&#8217;s criticism of Israel&#8217;s vaccination distribution\u200b plan\u200d highlight concerns about the\u200c health and well-being of Palestinians in the occupied territories?<\/h2>\n<p><span>  Living in Israeli-occupied territories,\u2063 and refugees. He\u200d contended that these populations would face limited access to healthcare and be subjected to \u200ddiscriminatory policies that would exacerbate health inequalities.<\/p>\n<p>Furthermore, Ahmed has made controversial statements regarding Israel&#8217;s \u2063response to the COVID-19 pandemic. \u200cHe criticized\u2063 Israel&#8217;s vaccination distribution plan,\u200b alleging that it prioritized Israeli citizens over Palestinians living in the occupied territories. He argued that this demonstrated a lack of concern for the health and well-being of Palestinians and perpetuated a system of structural violence.<\/p>\n<p>These views have garnered \u2064both support and criticism. Some argue that Ahmed&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/exclusive-frame-by-frame-analysis-sheds-light-on-dr-jills-open-mouthed-make-out-sesh-with-kamalas-husband\/\" title=\"EXCLUSIVE: Frame-By-Frame Analysis Sheds Light on Dr. Jill's Open-Mouthed Make-Out Sesh With Kamala's Husband\">analysis sheds light<\/a> on the unequal distribution of resources and healthcare access in the region. \u2063They contend that questioning \u200dIsrael&#8217;s policies is a legitimate exercise of\u200c academic freedom and freedom of speech.<\/p>\n<p>However, others assert that Ahmed&#8217;s statements reflect a biased \u200dperspective that unfairly demonizes Israel. They argue \u2062that his characterization of Israel as a &#8220;colonial settler state&#8221;\u2063 perpetuates a\u2062 one-sided narrative that ignores \u200bthe complex historical and political context of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. They contend that his views contribute to a hostile environment for Jewish students \u2062and perpetuate anti-Israel sentiments.<\/p>\n<h3>Responses \u200bfrom Columbia \u200bUniversity<\/h3>\n<p>Columbia University has addressed the concerns raised by students \u2063and faculty members regarding Ahmed&#8217;s alleged biased teaching. In \u2064a statement, the university emphasized its \u2062commitment to fostering a diverse \u200band inclusive academic environment while upholding the principles of academic freedom and free expression.<\/p>\n<p>The university stated \u200dthat it <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/applications-for-pennsylvania-state-police-spike-258-after-college-requirement-abandoned\/\" title=\"Applications for Pennsylvania State Police spike 258% after college requirement abandoned\">encourages constructive dialogue<\/a> and the exploration of diverse perspectives within \u2062its classrooms. However, it also stressed the importance of ensuring that students are exposed to a\u200c wide range of perspectives and\u2063 that teaching is conducted in a manner that \u2064respects \u200copposing viewpoints and maintains a respectful and inclusive \u200denvironment for all students.<\/p>\n<p>Columbia University has promised to investigate\u200d the allegations against Ahmed to determine if there has been any violation of its principles and policies. It recognizes the importance of addressing\u200c concerns regarding biased teaching and maintaining a balanced \u2063and fair educational experience for\u2063 all students.<\/p>\n<h3>The Need for Academic \u2063Integrity<\/h3>\n<p>This incident\u2064 at Columbia University raises \u200bbroader \u200dquestions about the role and responsibilities of educators in fostering an inclusive and unbiased learning environment. It highlights the delicate balance between academic freedom, freedom of speech, and the need to promote critical thinking and intellectual discourse.<\/p>\n<p>Educators\u2064 have \u200ba responsibility\u2063 to present diverse\u200d viewpoints in a fair and unbiased manner, ensuring that students have access to a range of perspectives to\u200b form their own informed\u2063 opinions. It is crucial to encourage respectful dialogue \u200cand create \u2063a space \u2064where students feel free\u2063 to express their ideas without fear of prejudice or\u2064 discrimination.<\/p>\n<p>Universities and academic institutions should prioritize the promotion of academic integrity by establishing codes of \u200bconduct and guidelines that outline expectations for educators in their teaching practices. It is imperative to address any instances of biased teaching or indoctrination that may undermine the educational experience and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/costumes-can-elicit-trauma-michigan-state-university-warns-students-about-halloween\/\" title=\"\u2018Costumes Can Elicit Trauma\u2019: Michigan State University Warns Students About Halloween\">perpetuate harmful stereotypes<\/a> \u2063or beliefs.<\/p>\n<p>In conclusion, the appointment of Kayum Ahmed, a former director at Open Society Foundations, as \u2063a tenure-track professor at Columbia University has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/bidens-state-department-is-putting-brazilian-trans-activists-in-english-classes\/\" title=\"Brazilian trans activists are receiving English classes from Biden's State Department.\">sparked controversy due<\/a> to allegations of biased teaching and spreading disinformation. The response from the university underscores the importance of maintaining academic integrity and \u2064fostering a\u200c respectful and inclusive learning environment. It is essential for educators \u2063to present diverse perspectives while upholding the principles\u200d of academic freedom and critical thinking. Only through promoting\u200b unbiased education can universities fulfill their\u200c role as institutions dedicated \u200bto the\u200d pursuit of knowledge and intellectual growth.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Kayum Ahmed, previously with George Soros&#8217;s Open Society Foundations, is now a Columbia University professor. In a video obtained by the Wall Street Journal, Ahmed can be seen leading a call-and-response exercise with students, passionately asking, &#8220;What do we want?&#8221; to which they respond, &#8220;Justice!&#8221; Ahmed&#8217;s role as a tenure-track public health professor is noteworthy<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2020,"featured_media":2196727,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/freebeacon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/0c2121f0-7a25-11ed-8205-85bafa621649_736x514.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[544],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2196726","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-free-beacon"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/freebeacon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/0c2121f0-7a25-11ed-8205-85bafa621649_736x514.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2196726","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2020"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2196726"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2196726\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2196727"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2196726"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2196726"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2196726"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}