New York City Mayor Eric Adams has called on Columbia University to release the admission records of Zohran Mamdani, a Democratic socialist candidate in the city’s mayoral race. Mamdani, who identified as Asian and African American on his 2009 application to the Ivy League institution, is now facing scrutiny over his racial identity claims.
Mamdani, a 33-year-old Muslim immigrant from Uganda, explained to the New York Times that he chose to identify as both Asian and African American because neither category alone fully captured his identity. At the time, Mamdani was not yet a U.S. citizen, a status he achieved in 2018. He retains dual citizenship with Uganda, according to the report.
Adams’ Strong Reaction
Mayor Adams expressed outrage at Mamdani’s actions, describing them as an affront to students who gain college admission through legitimate means. “The African American identity is not a checkbox of convenience. It’s a history, a struggle, and a lived experience. For someone to exploit that for personal gain is deeply offensive,” Adams stated.
Adams’ campaign has gone further, suggesting that Mamdani’s actions might have deprived a genuine African American applicant of a spot at Columbia. “It’s now clear that Zohran Mamdani misrepresented his racial identity to gain admission to Columbia University, and at the time, he wasn’t even a U.S. citizen. This is not just dishonest — it’s possibly fraudulent,” said campaign spokesperson Todd Shapiro.
Call for Transparency and Investigation
The Adams campaign is demanding that Columbia University make Mamdani’s admissions records public and investigate whether his application violated university policy. They also seek clarification on whether Mamdani’s non-citizen status influenced the university’s decision-making process.
The controversy erupted after Mamdani’s application was leaked to the New York Times by a “hacktivist” who reportedly accessed sensitive information from over 2 million university members, including applications.
Political Implications
Mamdani’s father, Mahmood Mamdani, is a respected professor of anthropology, political science, and African studies at Columbia University, having joined the faculty in 1999. Despite the controversy, Zohran Mamdani remains the frontrunner in the upcoming November general election. An American Pulse survey released Thursday shows Mamdani leading with 35% of the vote, followed by former Governor Andrew Cuomo at 29%. Republican Curtis Sliwa garnered 16%, while incumbent Mayor Adams, running as an independent, received 14%, and fellow independent candidate Jim Walden had 1%.
“We need answers. Because the people of New York deserve to know whether the man asking for their vote built his career on a possibly fraudulent foundation.” — Todd Shapiro, Adams’ campaign spokesperson
Historical Context and Expert Opinions
This incident highlights ongoing debates about racial identity and college admissions in the United States. The use of racial categories in college applications has long been a contentious issue, with critics arguing that it can lead to misrepresentation and unfair advantages.
Experts in higher education and racial identity have weighed in on the matter. Dr. Lisa Coleman, a sociologist specializing in race and ethnicity, noted that “the complexities of racial identity in America often lead individuals to navigate these categories in ways that reflect their multifaceted backgrounds. However, institutions must ensure that these identities are respected and not exploited.”
Meanwhile, the debate over affirmative action and racial quotas in college admissions continues to be a hot-button issue, with recent legal challenges reaching the Supreme Court. This case adds another layer to the ongoing discussion about fairness and representation in higher education.
Looking Ahead
As the mayoral race heats up, the implications of this controversy could shape voter perceptions and influence the outcome. The demand for transparency and accountability from Columbia University is likely to persist, with potential repercussions for Mamdani’s campaign.
The New York Post has reached out to Mamdani’s campaign for comment, but as of now, no official response has been provided. As the story develops, the public will be watching closely to see how both the university and Mamdani address these allegations.
