Pro-Palestinian student protesters and Columbia University officials have failed to reach an agreement, as stated in a recent update by the university’s president on Monday.
Administrators have spent the majority of the past week engaging in negotiations with demonstrators, as the campus was engulfed in protests. The protesters have been demanding that the college divest from Israel. As a result of the ongoing turmoil, numerous arrests have been made and the institution has transitioned to virtual learning.
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In a statement released on Monday, Columbia’s president, Nemat Minouche Shafik, expressed regret that an agreement could not be reached.
In the letter, it was stated that the university will not divest from Israel. However, they have proposed to expedite the timeline for reviewing new proposals with the Advisory Committee for Socially Responsible Investing.
Ms. Shafik appealed to the students who have established a camp on the college grounds in upper Manhattan, urging them to disperse voluntarily.
In addition, she mentioned that the university is currently seeking input from a wider range of community members in order to explore potential internal solutions and resolve this crisis as quickly as possible.
The protesters were given a clear warning by the university to vacate the premises by 2pm EST on Monday, or else they would risk facing suspension.
According to the Columbia Spectator, university officials have requested student protesters to voluntarily leave the premises by 2pm and to inform them of their departure. Additionally, the school is asking these protesters to sign a form pledging their commitment to adhere to the university’s policies until June 2025 or the date of their degree conferral. However, the university assures that no disciplinary action will be taken against any student who agrees to the terms outlined in the document.
The University has already identified many students in the encampment, and it is crucial for you to know this. If you do not identify yourself and sign the form before leaving, you will not be able to complete the semester in good standing. The university statement states, “If you do not leave by 2pm, you will be suspended pending further investigation.”
University officials have announced plans to create a new location for protests once the exam period and commencement activities have ended. The current unauthorized encampment is being deemed as detrimental to the welcoming atmosphere of the campus community.
The protesters were urged by the school’s president to take into account their fellow classmates’ upcoming graduation ceremonies. It was pointed out that many students who will be graduating this year were unable to commemorate their high school graduations because of the pandemic.
“We also want to ensure that thousands of students and their loved ones can partake in a well-deserved graduation celebration,” expressed Ms. Shafik. “It’s important to remember that many students in this graduating class missed out on a high school graduation ceremony due to the pandemic, and for many of them, earning a university degree is a significant accomplishment, being the first in their families to do so.”
The university administration initially imposed a midnight deadline on 22 April for the protesters to reach an agreement or face removal.
The students organizing the Gaza protest have also appealed to the school for amnesty for those students who faced disciplinary actions as a consequence of their involvement in the protest. However, Ms. Shafik’s letter did not address this particular demand.
Ms. Shafik has faced widespread criticism for her actions during the protest. Protesters and faculty members have expressed their disapproval of her decision to call the police to disperse the encampment on 18 April, which ultimately led to the arrests of over 100 protesters. Additionally, her overall management of the protest has been heavily scrutinized.
Critics of the Gaza protesters, like House Speaker Mike Johnson, have also criticized Ms. Shafik. Last week, the Republican leader paid a visit to Columbia’s campus to condemn the protesters and demand Ms. Shafik’s resignation if she did not immediately put an end to the demonstrations.
During his address on April 24th, he joined his colleagues and called on President Shafik to resign if she is unable to promptly restore order to the current chaos.
Ms. Shafik disregarded the call to resign, and the university proceeded with negotiations with the students. A university spokesperson, when approached by Reuters, declined to provide any additional comments regarding Ms. Shafik’s statement.
The Independent has contacted for comment.
