Students with Jewish backgrounds recount their experiences of attending college in New York City during anti-Israeli demonstrations: 'Feeling like a target'

Some of the most intense anti-Israel demonstrations in the country are taking place at college campuses, and several Jewish students discussed their experiences there.

On Wednesday, Shoshana Aufzien, Eliana Birman, and Aryeh Krischer were featured on "Fox & Friends" to express their dismay and astonishment at the disruptive anti-Israel demonstrations that have been occurring at Columbia University and Barnard College in New York City during the past academic year and the start of this one.

Birman stated that he believes it is unfair for students to take away the education he has dreamed of his entire life, just because he is Jewish and a Zionist, and that he should not back down and go somewhere else.

At Barnard College, a liberal arts institution that shares a campus and faculty with Columbia University, are two freshmen named Birman and Aufzien. Krischer, on the other hand, is a PhD student at Columbia.

Despite being "disheartened" by the protests and harassment of Jewish students that occurred at their "dream school" throughout the past year, both Barnard students have committed to attending the university.

Like Eliana, I too always wanted to attend Barnard, a women's college, as I am also enrolled in a dual degree program with the Jewish theological seminary, allowing me to pursue my diverse interests simultaneously. However, I was disheartened and appalled by the events that occurred at Barnard last year.

Krischer acknowledged that he had given a lot of thought to remaining at Columbia to complete his program, citing the influence of a friend who had recently transferred due to the disruptive behavior on campus.

He has managed to steer clear of confrontations with irate students on most days by working "in the vicinity of the rear of campus."

"When I need to focus and work, I can escape from distractions and concentrate. However, not everyone has that option," he remarked.

Birman responded with "Absolutely not" when asked if her school was taking measures to safeguard her.

An article she published in a small Jewish outlet detailing her concerns about attending the school was shared online by anti-Israel agitators at the school and seen by her classmates. As a result, she was bullied as soon as she got to school.

"The day after we moved, people were asking me how I could face being on campus, saying it was embarrassing for me to be there."

Even though she is now on campus, she still doesn't feel safe. From her room on the second floor, facing Broadway, she can clearly hear the protests. As she walks through campus, she notices fliers being handed out to visibly Jewish students, accusing them of being complicit in genocide. This makes her feel like there's a target on her back for being Jewish.

Columbia and Barnard administrators were accused by Aufzien of "all talk, no action" in safeguarding Jewish students on campus.

The administration's failure to address the damning report of antisemitism and antisemitic incidents on campus is gross negligence, she stated.

When you deny antisemitism instead of addressing it, it sends a clear message about your other actions.