Columbia trustee: Higher education is at a pivotal moment and must choose wisely

Each generation, companies are faced with a decisive choice: building or destroying.

Higher education is at the crossroads. As a scientist and trustee of the University of Columbia, I witnessed first -hand how an institution once praised as a pillar of intellectual progress can be threatened not only by enemies from the outside, but also by an ideology of the interior – which celebrates chaos on creation, the grievance on growth and destruction in relation to discourse.

The majority of my family left Iran during the Revolution (I am a Persian Jew) in the face of violence, extremism, oppression and destruction. My family has chosen to emigrate to the United States because it is a nation of hope, freedom and opportunity. Thanks to education, dedication and hard work, we were able to realize the “American dream” – we are doctors, nurses, scientists, engineers, mothers, fathers – all productive and contributory members of society, engaged in our communities.

The Jewish student will settle the pursuit of religious discrimination against Columbia

I won my doctorate in Columbia. He shaped the trajectory of my life, opened doors to scientific discovery and inspired me to find a biotechnology company dedicated to treatment to advance for patients with rare diseases. This experience – of curiosity, exploration and relentless innovation – was directly derived from the principles of academic freedom and leadership at Columbia University.

However, in the spring of 2024, my house was full of students (my children and many of their classmates) who no longer felt safe on the Columbia campus. Their fears do not come from an intellectual challenge or a debate – it comes from intimidation. The demonstrators, many masked, other embraces by institutional tolerance, took control of the physical environment of the university. They closed the classrooms, buildings and libraries.

Tuesday April 30, 2024: Pro-Palestinian students lock their arms, sing and sing while they prepare for the officers of the New York police department to get off on the campus after the president of the University of Columbia, Minouche Shafik, called the NYPD to dismantle the camps and to remove the individuals of Hamilton Hall in New York. (Seyma Bayram via AP)

Recently, Columbia has published a report on anti -Semitism and the climate of the campus, demonstrating that this chaos and this chaos led students both Jewish (87%) and Muslims (83%) feel anxious to express their beliefs and have made the majority of students from the two religions due.

Trump administrator alleges that Columbia violated the civil rights law with “deliberate indifference” to campus demonstrations

After having expressed my concerns about anti -Semitism on campus, I have become the target of certain media voices determined to erase decades from my work, my service and my scholarship with some evil traits calculated from a pen.

What these criticisms do not understand is the following: it is easy to destroy, but we are a nation of manufacturers. Among my most proud achievements are a business, making research progress, discovering new drugs – this is what it means to build. Manufacturers focus on innovation, problem solving and positive changes, while destroyers are characterized in negativity and disturbances, and strive to demolish existing systems. You need passion, creativity and courage to put you on the front line – to create and share something with the world.

This is why I wanted to give back to my Alma Mater, which gave me so much. In recent years, I have seen how easy it is to destroy an institution, a reputation or a work of life. It is even easier to do it behind a computer or behind a mask, where you don’t need to take personal responsibility for what they have done. It is important to recognize that if this destruction attracts attention, it is transitory; Positive change has lasting effects. The work of my life taught me that creation is generally difficult and little glamorous work. He does not make the headlines. It does not become viral. It is not done behind a mask or in the shadow of Tiktok. It requires dedication, rigor, compassion and commitment.

The acting president of the University of Columbia, Claire Shipman, was interrupted by the students during the graduation, who sang “Mahmoud Libre”, calling for the release of Mahmoud Khalil. (Columbia University)

Columbia University has always served as a hub for innovators. He educated statesmen, Nobel Prize winners and medical pioneers. Its laboratories have produced therapies against cancer and climate models. His classrooms cultivated intellectuals that have shaped economies and peace treaties.

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The real Columbia – Ma Columbia – is a advancement monument shaped by generations of human efforts. The monuments, however, can be vandalized and dismantled. And these current campaigns were not acts of civil dialogue; They were deeds of desecration. To blame rather than solve. To tear yourself down instead of sewing together. The world is full of destroyers. Their work is fast, noisy and rarely durable. But it is the manufacturers – the creators – who advance humanity.

Low Memorial Library, Columbia University, New York City. (Group of Images of Education / Images Universal via Getty Images)

This transcends Columbia University. It is a moral choice that confronts our nation, in particular those with the power to shape American institutions. Do we raise or demonstrate? Are we doing students to think critically, to find the truth, then to grow, or do we allow this new form of intimidation of the campus to silence those who have opposite opinions and destroy educational opportunities for a whole generation?

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As parents, we can start our education for the next generation in our homes. We can teach our children to contribute positively to the world – to help develop our society rather than destroy. This education must continue in the best institutions in our country, where our younger leaders learn to grow thanks to the diversity of opinions. We must ensure adherence to freedom of non-violent expression, non-propeller, the will to hear different ideas from his and learn with an open mind.

Our educational establishments should reflect the hope, freedom and opportunity that our nation offers us all. Let us rebuild the institutions like Columbia together to ensure that hatred and chaos do not dominate, and everyone feels included and respected. This is the moment of our generation to direct. The building requires bravery and, in turn, our courage will spread across America. Let’s build again.