Columbia Professor Faces Campus Ban After Anti-Israel Protest Clash

Last week, Columbia University banned a professor named Shai Davidai from campus. The ban happened after he argued with anti-Israel protesters and had heated exchanges with school leaders on the anniversary of a deadly attack on Israel by Hamas. The school claims Davidai harassed some faculty members, which violates its rules. Davidai, who is not teaching this semester and is from Israel, believes he's being targeted unfairly. He thinks the school isn't being tough on students and staff who support violence against Israel.

A video showed Davidai having a tense conversation with a top school safety official, Patrick Oakley. Davidai even looked at Oakley's ID badge. He feels that the school didn't do enough to keep Jewish students safe during the protests. Davidai has taught at Columbia for five years and thinks the school is run by petty people. He says he wasn't trying to provoke anyone but wants to see changes to protect Jewish students more effectively. The school says Davidai can return if he completes certain training and follows their rules.

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