Columbia University has found itself at the center of controversy following the recent announcement of the Pulitzer Prize winners, which included Palestinian poet Mosab Abu Toha for his commentary in the New Yorker regarding the situation in Gaza. Just over 24 hours after the award was announced on May 5, 2025, Abu Toha's inflammatory comments about hostages taken by Hamas surfaced, drawing sharp criticism.
In a tweet, Abu Toha questioned the status of Emily Damari, a 28-year-old Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) soldier who was abducted, stating, "How on earth is this girl called a hostage?" He further dismissed sympathy for another hostage, remarking, "These are the ones the world wants to share sympathy for, killers who join the army and have family in the army!" Such statements have raised eyebrows and led to accusations that Columbia's administration, particularly acting president Claire Shipman, who serves on the Pulitzer board, should have anticipated the backlash.
Critics have pointed out that deliberations for the Pulitzer winners occur on Columbia's campus, with Marjorie Miller, a Columbia employee, overseeing the prize administration. When questioned about the board's awareness of Abu Toha's controversial statements prior to the award, Miller stated that the selection process is based on a review of submitted works. However, the implications of awarding a prize to someone who has made such polarizing comments have led to calls for accountability.
In a separate incident, a mob of masked activists affiliated with Columbia University Apartheid Divest (CUAD) took over Butler Library on May 7, 2025, forcing students to abandon their studies. The group, known for its anti-Semitic rhetoric, claimed responsibility for the takeover, during which they renamed the library after Basel al-Araj, a Palestinian terrorist killed in a 2017 shootout with Israeli forces. Video footage showed approximately 100 masked individuals storming the library, chanting slogans that endorsed violence against Israel, including, "There is only one solution, intifada revolution," and "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free."
CUAD's demands included full financial divestment from what they termed "Zionist occupation," an academic boycott of Israel, and amnesty for all students and faculty who had faced disciplinary actions. The situation escalated to the point where Shipman authorized the NYPD to intervene, leading to the arrest of nearly 100 individuals on campus.
Meanwhile, the political landscape continues to shift as President Joe Biden offered a muddled defense of his decision to seek reelection in his first major interview since leaving office. In his remarks to the BBC, he claimed, "What happened was, I had become what we set out to do, no one thought we could do, and become so successful." However, this assertion does not align with public perception, as a Gallup survey released in February 2025 indicated that only 39 percent of Americans held a favorable view of Biden, the lowest rating among living presidents.
Biden's comments came amid growing concerns from within the Democratic Party, where many view his candidacy as a potential blunder. According to reports, leading Democrats had previously plotted to conceal Biden's cognitive decline from voters, raising ethical questions about transparency in the electoral process.
In other political news, Pennsylvania’s Haverford College president testified before the House Committee on Education and Workforce on May 7, 2025, armed with giant flashcards that emphasized the school's policy against calls for genocide and clarified that Israel is not a "genocidal state." This unusual approach highlights the growing tensions surrounding discussions of Israel and Palestine on college campuses.
Former President Donald Trump also made headlines during an interview with Hugh Hewitt, where he issued an ultimatum regarding Iran's nuclear facilities, stating, "Blow them up nicely or blow them up viciously." Such comments continue to fuel debates about U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East.
In a lighter note, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent appeared to mock Biden's mental fitness during a House hearing on the same day, responding to a Democrat's question about who was president in 2024 with, "One believes President Biden." This quip did not sit well with Democrat Rep. Gregory Meeks, who challenged Bessent's remarks.
As the nation grapples with these complex issues, the conversations surrounding them are becoming increasingly heated. Columbia University, in particular, is facing scrutiny not only for its recent award decisions but also for the actions of its student groups, which are reflective of broader societal tensions.
In a contrasting narrative, the architectural world is mourning the loss of Robert Campbell, a Pulitzer Prize-winning critic who passed away on April 29, 2025, in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Known for his insightful columns in the Boston Globe, Campbell's work spanned over four decades and profoundly shaped public discourse on architecture.
Campbell, who battled Parkinson's disease, began his career in the early 1970s, a tumultuous time in Boston marked by social and political upheaval. His column, "Cityscapes," often paired with photographer Peter Vanderwalker, captured the city's architectural transformation and its impact on urban life.
His critiques were characterized by a blend of authority and accessibility, making complex architectural concepts comprehensible to the average reader. Fellow Pulitzer winner Blair Kamin remarked, "We’ve lost a great one," highlighting Campbell's significant contributions to the field.
Throughout his career, Campbell was unafraid to tackle controversial subjects, such as his early critiques of Boston City Hall. He famously described the plaza surrounding the building as "always too big, too empty, too grand," advocating for urban spaces that foster community engagement. His work often reflected a postmodern romanticism, celebrating the city's idiosyncrasies while challenging elitism in architectural discourse.
Campbell's legacy includes the 1996 Pulitzer Prize for Criticism and the 2018 Vincent Scully Prize, awarded for his influence on architecture criticism. His last review for the Boston Globe in 2017 encapsulated his enduring passion for architecture and public life.
As discussions of race and justice continue to unfold in various sectors, including the arts and architecture, the contributions of figures like Campbell remind us of the importance of thoughtful critique and the role of public discourse in shaping our environments.
