WASHINGTON, D.C. — Further controversy erupted on Capitol Hill today at the start of a hearing on antisemitism on college campuses, as Columbia University president Nemat Shafik accidentally gave a Nazi salute when being sworn in before her congressional testimony.

The mix-up occurred as Shafik was asked to raise her right hand to testify about her institution's culture in the face of accusations of hate and discrimination, with the university head inadvertently raising her arm into the well-known "Heil, Hitler" sign as though it was second nature to her.

"Oh, my goodness! Sorry! Force of habit!" Shafik said after realizing her mistake. "I don't want anyone to think that Columbia University in any way supports or affirms hate speech or antisemitic behavior of any kind, and I ask that the fact that I accidentally performed a Nazi salute there for a moment not be held against me or misinterpreted as me harboring any negative views toward Jews."

Members of Congress and reporters in attendance paused awkwardly as Shafik attempted to further explain her gaffe. "It's just an arm motion I'm very used to doing. Muscle memory and all that," she said. "I don't think the president of a major university giving a Nazi salute should be misconstrued as evidence that accusations of antisemitism on our campus are true. We love the Jews. All about those Jews."

At publishing time, the committee chair told Shafik it was alright and to proceed with her testimony, to which she responded "Death to Isra — I mean thank you! I totally meant to say ‘thank you.'"