Exclusive | Outspoken Columbia prof Shai Davidai banned from campus for ‘harassing’ school officials over anti-Israel protesters

Outspoken Columbia business professor Shai Davidai was banned from campus after he clashed with rowdy anti-Israel protesters and confronted school officials last week during the one-year anniversary of Hamas’ deadly Oct. 7 attack on the Jewish state.

The Ivy League school sent Davidai’s lawyer a letter stating that the professor’s access to school grounds was cut off as of 3 p.m. Tuesday because Columbia leaders claimed he harassed at least five faculty members during the raucous scene, violating school rules. 

“Threats of intimidation, harassment or other threatening behavior by University employees, including faculty members, will not be tolerated,” the school said in the letter that Davidai provided to The Post. 

The Israeli native, who is conducting research and not teaching this semester, is not suspended and can return to campus after he completes workplace conduct training and complies with school policy, Columbia said in its letter. 

He can still advise students remotely, the school stated.

University officials cited videos taken by Davidai and posted on social media that showed him challenging school leaders to rein in raucous anti-Israel demonstrators to no avail as he came face-to-face with some keffiyeh-clad students.

In one video, he and Patrick Oakley, a top school public safety official, went back and forth with Davidai appearing to pick up Oakley’s ID badge around his neck to get a better look of it. 

“They blocked my movement and you’re not doing anything,” Davidai said of the protesters, with Oakley insisting, “No, you’re walking into them.”

“You’re not keeping Jews safe,” Davidai shot back.

Davidai, who’s taught at Columbia for five years, told The Post Tuesday night the school’s action is “nothing but retaliation.”

“It broke me,” he admitted. “It shows how Columbia is run by petty individuals.”

He said claims that he harassed or intimidated school officials are “crazy,” while arguing the Ivy League school hasn’t leveled the same discipline against anti-Israel students and faculty that espouse violence against the Jewish state. 

“It’s hypocrisy to the nth degree,” he said. 

“There are professors who either participated in or taught in the encampment,” he said. “Not a single professor has been fired or suspended since October 7 for antisemitism and support of terrorism.”

That includes controversial professor Joseph Massad, who called the Oct. 7 massacre “awesome” the following day. 

“He’s never been suspended from anything,” said Davidai.

Davidai also blasted the school on a social media video, directing most of his ire toward Columbia’s Chief Operating Officer Cas Holloway, who he said could “go f—k himself.”

He said he was supposed to be on campus on Tuesday for an Oct. 7 memorial organized by Jewish students before his lawyer informed him of the school’s ban. 

“It is shocking that after everything that has happened, including the resignation of its president, the Columbia University leadership continues to silence and penalize its Jewish and Israeli community members while protecting pro-terror groups,” Davidai’s attorney Mark Lerner told The Post. 

The school has faced much upheaval over the last year, including anti-Israel protesters that occupied a school building and set up an encampment on the campus green. 

Former president Minouche Shafik suddenly stepped down over the summer. 

Davidai has admittedly been an outspoken staffer, criticizing the school for not doing more to protect Jewish students during anti-Israel demonstrations.

“I am feeling broken,” he said Tuesday, but stressed, “I’m not stopping the fight – because it’s not about me.”

“I’m not a provocateur. My goal is not to provoke or get a reaction – it’s to get change going,” he added.