A student waves a flag during a march on Columbia University campus in support of a protest encampment supporting Palestinians, despite a 2pm deadline issued by university officials to disband or face suspension, during the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in New York City, U.S., April 29, 2024. REUTERS/Caitlin Ochs
Columbia University’s president, Nemat Minouche Shafik, announced on Monday that discussions with pro-Palestinian demonstrators regarding the removal of an encampment on the Ivy League campus had proved unproductive. Shafik urged the protesters to disperse voluntarily or face potential suspension from the institution.
The president disclosed that despite several days of dialogue between student organizers and academic authorities, a resolution regarding the tent encampment, established in protest of Israel’s actions in Gaza, remained elusive. Shafik stated unequivocally that Columbia would not engage in divesting assets supporting Israel’s military, a primary demand of the protesters. Instead, the university proposed investments in health and education in Gaza, as well as enhancing transparency in its financial investments.
The protesters have declared their intent to maintain the encampment on the Manhattan campus until Columbia accedes to three demands: divestment, financial transparency, and amnesty for individuals disciplined due to their involvement in the protests. In a formal communication sent on Monday morning, the university warned that students failing to vacate the encampment by 2 p.m. ET (1800 GMT) and sign a form acknowledging their participation would face suspension, rendering them ineligible to complete the semester in good standing.
Even those students who complied with the directive to vacate and signed the acknowledgment form would be subjected to “disciplinary probation” until June 2025 or their graduation, whichever came first. A spokesperson for Columbia University confirmed the authenticity of the letter containing these stipulations.
In response, the Columbia Student Apartheid Divest coalition issued a joint statement condemning what they described as “repulsive scare tactics.” They reaffirmed their commitment to remaining at the encampment until their demands were met or until they were forcibly removed.
Regarding prior actions taken by the university to dismantle the encampment, Shafik faced criticism from students, faculty, and external observers. These actions, which involved summoning New York City police resulting in over 100 arrests, sparked controversy. Despite subsequent efforts to remove the encampment, including missed deadlines and ongoing discussions, protests persisted both at Columbia and across various U.S. campuses.
Additionally, demonstrations were reported at universities in other countries, including McGill University in Montreal, where multiple pro-Palestinian encampments were established, and at the Sorbonne University in Paris, where police evacuated protesters from the campus yard.
Civil rights groups have expressed concern over instances of police intervention and arrests at several universities, including Emory University, the University of Texas at Austin, and Virginia Tech. These incidents have prompted debate over the appropriate handling of campus protests and have drawn attention to broader issues surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
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