image sourced from original article at Rosie Bsheer, a Harvard professor recently removed from her leadership role at the Center for Middle Eastern Studies, is now a finalist for Columbia University's prestigious Edward Said chair in Arab Studies. Her tenure at Harvard was marked by controversy, including organizing panels and inviting speakers who were accused of justifying the October 7 Hamas attack, and failing to include pro-Israel voices. Harvard's anti-Semitism report and Jewish alumni groups criticized the center for promoting anti-Israel narratives and fueling harassment, leading to federal scrutiny and reforms.
Bsheer's potential appointment at Columbia comes amid ongoing tensions over campus activism and the university's handling of anti-Semitism. The previous chair, Rashid Khalidi, also faced criticism for his views on Israel and for challenging the university's adoption of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance anti-Semitism definition. Other finalists for the position have similarly defended Hamas, raising concerns about ideological bias in Columbia's Middle East studies programs.
Columbia has not yet extended any job offers, and university officials emphasize that candidates' views do not represent the institution. However, questions remain about Columbia's compliance with federal agreements to protect Jewish students, as the university has resisted oversight and filled review committees with faculty members known for anti-Israel positions.
