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Initially, the incident was reported as a chemical attack, but it was later found out that the spray was actually a harmless fart spray bought from Amazon.
Several students complained of nausea, abdominal pain, headaches and irritated eyes. (Representative Image)
Columbia University has agreed to pay $395,000 (approximately Rs 3 crore) to a Jewish student who was wrongfully suspended after an incident during a protest on campus. The event happened during a rally where around 100 student groups opposed US’ support for Israel’s actions in Gaza. Initially, the incident was reported as a “chemical attack,” but it was later found out that the spray was actually a harmless fart spray bought from Amazon. Following the incident, several students complained of nausea, abdominal pain, headaches and irritated eyes, which led Columbia University and the New York Police Department (NYPD) to look into the matter as a possible hate crime. Despite the initial concern, school officials later confirmed that the spray wasn’t risky.
A report titled, Antisemitism on college campuses exposed, written by Committee on Education & the Workforce, US House of Representatives claims that Columbia University let a misleading story continue for months, which unfairly targeted Jewish students, even though they knew it was false. Initially, both Jewish students involved in the incident received 18 month suspensions. However, after one of the students filed a lawsuit in April, the university reduced the punishment and agreed to pay a settlement.
Meanwhile, Shay, a Jewish undergraduate student, told Guardian that he had to visit the emergency room at Mount Sinai Morningside due to “appetite loss and severe nausea and a headache.” After the treatment, she received IV and was given medication. The student called the settlement a “slap in the face. Assault is assault. If multiple people have to go to the hospital and get diagnosed with chemical exposure, then, ‘Oh, it was just fart spray’ is not really a defense to me.”
Shay is against the committee for labelling campus protests supporting Palestinians as antisemitic. She found it very upsetting to use such a serious issue for political gain and shared that her family has been affected by antisemitism in the past. She feels that reducing the discussion of antisemitism in a way to silence important activism is offensive.
In a letter to students and faculty sent in January after the incident, Columbia’s interim provost, Dennis Mitchell, wrote, “A deeply troubling incident occurred on the steps of Low Library on Friday. Numerous Columbia and Barnard students who attended a protest later reported being sprayed with a foul-smelling substance that required students to seek medical treatment.”
As per the portal, the producers of the fart spray warns that using the product could lead to several unpleasant side effects. These may include eye irritation, nausea, vomiting and sometimes diarrhea. They also mentioned that if someone inhales the spray, it could irritate their respiratory system.
