Gauri Viswanathan, a professor at Columbia University, has been a vocal participant in campaigns targeting Jews. She has endorsed calls for institutional condemnation of Israel’s actions and supported demands for the university to cut financial ties with companies conducting business with the state. In 2014, Viswanathan co-signed a letter urging the New York State Assembly to oppose legislative measures aimed at countering organized anti-Israel boycotts.
Additionally, she supported a Columbia faculty petition accusing the Jewish homeland of “inhumane segregation” and “systematic destruction,” aligning herself with groups such as Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) and Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP), both organizations known for fostering divisive and hostile campus climates, promoting and normalizing hate.
Gauri Viswanathan Defended Steven Salaita’s Antisemitic Rhetoric
Viswanathan’s controversial and problematic stance extended to defending disgraced professor Steven Salaita in 2014. Salaita’s appointment at the University of Illinois was rescinded after a series of inflammatory and antisemitic tweets, including a statement wishing harm on Jews in the West Bank. Despite widespread condemnation of his comments, Viswanathan endorsed a petition demanding that his appointment be reinstated.
Salaita remained unapologetic for his rhetoric, which many viewed as hate speech, yet Viswanathan’s support for his reinstatement highlighted her alignment with extreme antisemitic activism.
Position and Influence at Columbia University
Viswanathan is a professor in Columbia’s Department of English and Comparative Literature and holds a significant role in shaping academic discourse. Her public endorsements of controversial antisemitic campaigns and individuals have drawn scrutiny, particularly within a university environment increasingly grappling with incidents of antisemitism. Her actions contribute to the broader climate of hostility faced by Jewish students and faculty.
