Marcellus Wiley Says Protesters Are Ruining Reputation Of Alma Mater Columbia University

Columbia University looks a whole lot different than it did when Marcellus Wiley attended in the '90s.

The Ivy League school has been embroiled in controversy over the past couple of weeks after an anti-Israel mob gained control of large chunks of campus and seized a university building. Police were eventually called in to regain control of the building and arrest those who refused to leave.

But according to Wiley, the damage has already been done. The former NFL defensive end joined OutKick's Don't @ Me on Friday, where he told host Dan Dakich he's "disgusted" with the behavior of students at his alma mater.

"I hate that they're sullying our reputation," Wiley said. "There are literally articles written — I saw one in Forbes: ‘The New Ivy League.’ I'm like, the new Ivy League? They're trying to get rid of the old Ivy League because our reputations are down in the toilet because of situations like this. 

"And every other day you hear about the head of the university being fired or canceled. It's every school in the Ivy League. They're really damaging our reputation."

During the two weeks of protests at Columbia, demonstrators set up tents, waved Palestinian flags, destroyed property and displayed blatant anti-semitism.

READ: Anti-Israel Protesters Sue Columbia, Claim They’re Being Called Antisemitic

"Half these kids don't even know why they're out there protesting. It's unreal. Like, it's insane," Wiley said. "And the ones that do know also know that this is not the end all, be all. There are other steps and measures you must take beyond protesting. So I don't know why these kids are going to this extent — creating encampments, destroying their university, their property, their reputation."

Pro-Palestinian students occupy a central lawn on the Columbia University campus.

(Photo by Andrew Lichtenstein/Corbis via Getty Images)

Marcellus Wiley Says Columbia Protests Were Handled Poorly

The former Pro Bowler explained that the situation at Columbia escalated because "leadership didn't step in fast enough, swift enough."

"I wish we would have handled it like Stanford," Wiley said — referencing a letter that university president Richard Saller sent to students outlining the "rules of engagement" for protests.

RELATED: Tulane, Alabama, Florida Use Finesse To Better Handle Campus Protests That Plague UCLA, Columbia

"That's what I wish Colombia would have done. And then after that, if you want to violate these policies, there will be swift consequences. Enjoy your protests. That's all I would have said. And then I would have had the NYPD sitting there like alright, it's 5:01 p.m. We said they've got 'til 5. Let's go in, and let's do our job."

Police intervene and arrest more than 100 pro-Palestine students at New York University (NYU).

(Photo by Fatih Aktas/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Instead, though, Columbia officials let the situation get out of hand.

"We're in a society where everybody is trying to pander and appease all, which means we really don't get anything done," Wiley said. "Because you can't move the needle for all. You have to move the needle in the right direction. And some people are wrong. 

"It's actually okay to say you're doing the wrong thing, which is unruly protests. I'm not talking about what you're protesting. Can you understand that? You're a college student — you should be able to. You just can't do it in this fashion. Wish Columbia would have come down with a heavier hand in that situation."

While police did eventually intervene at Columbia, the Ivy League school's protests sparked ongoing anti-Israel demonstrations at college campuses across the country.