University condemns addition of ‘political views’ in astronomy course lab notes
A Columbia University teaching assistant’s attempt to insert pro-Palestinian “political views” into lab notes for an astronomy course prompted censure from campus administrators this week.
The university identified the individual only as a “graduate student serving as a teaching assistant” in a statement Tuesday through its Office of Public Affairs.
In lab notes for an Astronomy Lab I class, the teaching assistant added a section unrelated to the course subject, titled “Astronomy in Palestine,” The Columbia Spectator reports.
According to a screenshot of the notes posted on X, the teaching assistant told students to “understand their privileges” as they observe the stars and planets.
University leaders stated Tuesday that the teaching assistant violated university policy and department guidance by adding the pro-Palestinian section to the class materials.
“We regret that this unacceptable breach of policy took place and apologize to the students enrolled in the class,” the statement read. “The violation is being addressed through the University’s processes, and we are implementing additional review procedures.”
According to the Columbia faculty handbook, instructors are supposed to “confine their classes to the subject matter covered by their courses and not use them to advocate any political or social cause.”
Columbia has been a hotbed of activism over the Israel-Palestinian conflict, spurred on, in part, by the Oct. 6, 2023 terrorist attack on Israel by Hamas.
Some have accused the New York institution’s leaders of supporting or, at least, allowing antisemitism to continue unabated.
Three top administrators resigned last year after they were caught mocking Jewish leaders and students in a series of texts, The College Fix reported.
The university also cancelled classes last spring and went to remote learning due to violent pro-Palestinian protests, The Fix reported at the time.
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