As Chair of Columbia University’s Contemporary Civilization program, Carol Rovane has positioned herself at the center of an academic culture that excuses antisemitism and promotes radical, anti-Israel ideology. Under her leadership, one of Columbia’s core courses has become a pipeline for extremist rhetoric—providing cover for professors and students to normalize hatred of Israel and Jewish people under the banner of “critical thought.”

Turning a Blind Eye to Campus Extremism

• February 2025: Rovane’s leadership came under fire when a teacher in her department canceled a class so students could support pro-Palestinian activists illegally occupying a Columbia campus building. Rather than condemning the violation of campus policy or acknowledging the clear intimidation of Jewish students, Rovane remained silent—effectively endorsing the disruption and its antisemitic undercurrents.

Accused of Spreading Antisemitic and Anti-Israel Propaganda

• January 2025: Pro-Israel watchdog Documenting Jew Hatred on Campus accused Rovane of harboring “alarming anti-Israel, antisemitic views” and circulating false allegations against Israel. As a department leader, her influence extends beyond her own words—she sets the tone for a curriculum and faculty that increasingly blur the line between critical scholarship and open hostility towards Israel and its supporters.

Under Rovane’s direction, Columbia’s Contemporary Civilization course continues to assign “The Wretched of the Earth”, a text notorious for glorifying anti-colonial violence and armed resistance. The book has been repeatedly criticized for radicalizing students and encouraging them to view violent uprising as legitimate—paralleling the narratives used by Hamas and other terrorist organizations targeting Israel.

A Longstanding Ally of Anti-Israel Movements

• 2009: Rovane signed a public letter titled “On Academic Freedom in Palestine from Columbia Academics,” aligning herself with anti-Israel advocacy efforts well over a decade ago. The letter criticized efforts to protect Israeli academic partnerships and pushed the narrative that Palestinian “resistance” was being unjustly silenced, ignoring the ongoing reality of terrorism targeting Israeli civilians.

Creating a Safe Space for Extremism

Carol Rovane is not just an academic figure—she is a key enabler of the antisemitic and pro-terror movements festering on Columbia’s campus. By overseeing a curriculum that radicalizes students, ignoring violations of campus safety, and openly aligning with anti-Israel propaganda, Rovane has helped transform one of the nation’s top universities into a hub for extremist indoctrination.

Academic leadership carries responsibility. When department chairs like Rovane tacitly approve of campus takeovers, tolerate antisemitic rhetoric, and embed extremist texts into required coursework, they foster environments where hate thrives. Columbia University must be held to account for allowing figures like Rovane to wield influence without oversight.