Republican elected officials want the Democratic-led state Legislature to commence a hearing assessing Columbia University's response to the nearly three-week long pro-Palestinian protests on campus.

"We do need to get to the bottom of this," State Sen. Jack Martins (R-Long Island) told reporters Friday outside Columbia’s entrance on West 116th and Broadway, which is currently limited to students and faculty.

What You Need To Know

  • Republican elected officials want the Democratic-led state Legislature to commence a hearing assessing Columbia University's response to the nearly three-week long pro-Palestinian protests on campus

  • The state Senate GOP penned a May 1 letter addressed to state Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins requesting the State Senate Committee on Higher Education and Investigations & Government Operations Committee hold a joint hearing on the topic
  • The missive slammed "un-American behavior against Jewish students," arguing the "University's Administration has taken little to no action"
  • Neither Columbia University nor a spokesperson for the state Senate majority and Stewart-Cousins responded to requests for comment

"This institution and its leadership and in particular, President [Minouche] Shafik have let our students down. First, they let down Jewish students who came to this school to learn and were placed in harm's way and allowed to continue to be in harm's way with the university taking no action whatsoever to protect them," he added.

The state Senate GOP, led by Minority Leader Robert Ortt, (R-Lockport), penned a May 1 letter addressed to state Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins (D-Westchester) requesting the State Senate Committee on Higher Education and Investigations & Government Operations Committee hold a joint hearing on the topic.

They also want Columbia's president to testify.

"[T]here has been a rise in antisemitism across our state following the horrifying attacks on October 7. We have seen and continue to see Jewish New Yorkers targeted by violent protestors, including those on our college campuses," wrote the group in the letter obtained by NY1.

The missive slammed "un-American behavior against Jewish students," arguing the "University's Administration has taken little to no action."

Neither Columbia University nor a spokesperson for the state Senate majority and Stewart-Cousins responded to requests for comment.

After protests erupted on campus April 17 — sparking similar demonstrations and encampments on universities across New York and the U.S. — several prominent officials have called for Shafik's resignation, including GOP House Speaker Mike Johnson.

Shafik released a video statement on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, Friday afternoon, condemning the April 30 occupation of Hamilton Hall and indicating she has no intention to step down.

"It was a violent act that put our students at risk as well as putting our protestors at risk. I walked through the building and saw the damage, which was distressing, but despite all that has happened, I have confidence," she said.

Meanwhile, Martins slammed Gov. Kathy Hochul's response.

"She said she came down to Columbia and she met with the leadership here at Columbia quietly. Well I'd rather she didn't meet with them quietly. I would've rather she came in here loudly, held a press conference around here, told the world this was wrong, but she didn't," he said Friday.

Hochul condemned the April 30 occupation of Hamilton Hall and said she agreed with the NYPD's actions.

"Governor Hochul is a leading voice in the fight against hate and unveiled a first-in-the-nation plan to fight antisemitism last September," her office said in a statement, adding that she has been in constant communication with university leaders and law enforcement. "Anyone who thinks these issues could be solved by hosting a press conference clearly has no serious ideas about how to keep our kids safe."