NEW YORK CITY, NY - In an effort “to deescalate the rancor and give us a chance to consider next steps,” Columbia University classes are being held virtually effective Monday due to massive pro-Palestinian and anti-Jewish protests taking place.
The announcement was made by University President Minouche Shafik following the protests on the school’s New York campus taking place for more than six days. Last week, over 100 protesters were arrested.
Shafik’s statement said, “...faculty and staff that can work remotely should do so; essential personnel should report to work according to university policy. Our preference is that students who do not live on campus will not come to campus.”
CBS News reported that initially, remote learning was going to be an option for the university, but it is now mandatory.
On Monday morning, encampment tents popped back up on the University’s campus. NYPD can do little to solve the problem due to the campus being private property. During a press conference, officials with the NYPD expressed that they are limited in their ability to respond and are only able to respond if requested.
NYPD Deputy Commissioner Michael Gerber said, “What we can and can’t do is different than what we can do on public street. If someone, for example, is being attacked we’re gonna go into Columbia University as we would do a private home to protect that person.”
“The only NYPD assistance they asked is for us to patrol the outside the outer perimeter of the school,” NYPD Deputy Commissioner Kaz Daughtry added.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams has spoken out about the protests, telling CBS News that “there is no place for hate in New York City.”
Adams continued, “This country holds dear the right to voice one’s opinion, but that voicing of opinion, I don’t believe personally, should call out the level of hate that we’re seeing and the level of threats that we’re seeing.”
New York City is on high alert, despite there not being any credible threats to the city, according to Mayor Adams.
“Right now, there are many students not feeling safe on campus, students are scared. They’re afraid to walk on campus. They don’t deserve that. They deserve to be in an environment that’s free from discrimination, as required by state human rights laws,” New York Governor Kathy Hochul said during a visit to the campus on Monday.
Governor Hochul acknowledged that while she was a student protestor herself, “I’ve never seen a level of protest that’s so person-to-person, that’s so visceral.”
Both the protest and the University’s response are drawing additional attention, including from Robert Kraft, owner of the New England Patriots. On Monday, Kraft said that “until corrective action is taken," he is uncomfortable supporting the school financially.
Representive Elise Stefanik issued a statement on social media calling on Shafik to resign. “While Columbia’s failed leadership spent hundreds of hours preparing for this week’s Congressional hearing," she said, "it clearly was an attempt to cover up for their abject failure to enforce their own campus rules and protect Jewish students on campus."
Deputy Press Secretary Andrew Bates issued a statement on behalf of the White House denouncing antisemitism. “While every American has the right to peaceful protest, calls for violence and physical intimidation targeting Jewish students and the Jewish community are blatantly antisemitic, unconscionable, and dangerous- they have no place on any college campus, or anywhere in the United States of America.
"And echoing the rhetoric of terrorist organizations, especially in the wake of the worst massacre committed against Jewish people since the Holocaust, is despicable. We condemn these statements in the strongest terms.”
Along with additional security, enhanced ID checks will be performed at all entrances, and barricades remain in place outside of the school. Shafik has expressed that she would like to have conversations with the protesters in the coming days to find a compromise and ease tensions.
The announcement was made by University President Minouche Shafik following the protests on the school’s New York campus taking place for more than six days. Last week, over 100 protesters were arrested.
Shafik’s statement said, “...faculty and staff that can work remotely should do so; essential personnel should report to work according to university policy. Our preference is that students who do not live on campus will not come to campus.”
CBS News reported that initially, remote learning was going to be an option for the university, but it is now mandatory.
On Monday morning, encampment tents popped back up on the University’s campus. NYPD can do little to solve the problem due to the campus being private property. During a press conference, officials with the NYPD expressed that they are limited in their ability to respond and are only able to respond if requested.
NYPD Deputy Commissioner Michael Gerber said, “What we can and can’t do is different than what we can do on public street. If someone, for example, is being attacked we’re gonna go into Columbia University as we would do a private home to protect that person.”
“The only NYPD assistance they asked is for us to patrol the outside the outer perimeter of the school,” NYPD Deputy Commissioner Kaz Daughtry added.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams has spoken out about the protests, telling CBS News that “there is no place for hate in New York City.”
Adams continued, “This country holds dear the right to voice one’s opinion, but that voicing of opinion, I don’t believe personally, should call out the level of hate that we’re seeing and the level of threats that we’re seeing.”
New York City is on high alert, despite there not being any credible threats to the city, according to Mayor Adams.
“Right now, there are many students not feeling safe on campus, students are scared. They’re afraid to walk on campus. They don’t deserve that. They deserve to be in an environment that’s free from discrimination, as required by state human rights laws,” New York Governor Kathy Hochul said during a visit to the campus on Monday.
Governor Hochul acknowledged that while she was a student protestor herself, “I’ve never seen a level of protest that’s so person-to-person, that’s so visceral.”
Both the protest and the University’s response are drawing additional attention, including from Robert Kraft, owner of the New England Patriots. On Monday, Kraft said that “until corrective action is taken," he is uncomfortable supporting the school financially.
Representive Elise Stefanik issued a statement on social media calling on Shafik to resign. “While Columbia’s failed leadership spent hundreds of hours preparing for this week’s Congressional hearing," she said, "it clearly was an attempt to cover up for their abject failure to enforce their own campus rules and protect Jewish students on campus."
Deputy Press Secretary Andrew Bates issued a statement on behalf of the White House denouncing antisemitism. “While every American has the right to peaceful protest, calls for violence and physical intimidation targeting Jewish students and the Jewish community are blatantly antisemitic, unconscionable, and dangerous- they have no place on any college campus, or anywhere in the United States of America.
"And echoing the rhetoric of terrorist organizations, especially in the wake of the worst massacre committed against Jewish people since the Holocaust, is despicable. We condemn these statements in the strongest terms.”
Along with additional security, enhanced ID checks will be performed at all entrances, and barricades remain in place outside of the school. Shafik has expressed that she would like to have conversations with the protesters in the coming days to find a compromise and ease tensions.
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Comments
2024-04-25T07:58-0500 | Comment by: Joseph
Think, why? Look at Trump Rallies, look at the people there, look at them! It looks like the majority are legal American citizens and hard-working taxpayers! Now. Look at the posters, in the news at the College campuses, are they all Americans or are the majority illegal aliens and or foreign operatives or visa holders with a few American citizens. Look hard! Seriously. Also, the people running the colleges, are they naturalized citizens, or foreign operatives pushing their agenda to undermine Americans and our youth of tomorrow abusing our laws and Bill of Rights? Are the News Media intentionally not investigating this and who are the major contributors to the people dead set against President Trump and our country! We are losing our rights and liberties as operatives abuse our Constitution and Bill of Rights using our own liberties against hard-working taxpaying American Citizens. Wake up, listen, pay attention!
2024-04-25T07:58-0500 | Comment by: Joseph
Think, why? Look at Trump Rallies, look at the people there, look at them! It looks like the majority are legal American citizens and hard-working taxpayers! Now. Look at the posters, in the news at the College campuses, are they all Americans or are the majority illegal aliens and or foreign operatives or visa holders with a few American citizens. Look hard! Seriously. Also, the people running the colleges, are they naturalized citizens, or foreign operatives pushing their agenda to undermine Americans and our youth of tomorrow abusing our laws and Bill of Rights? Are the News Media intentionally not investigating this and who are the major contributors to the people dead set against President Trump and our country! We are losing our rights and liberties as operatives abuse our Constitution and Bill of Rights using our own liberties against hard-working taxpaying American Citizens. Wake up, listen, pay attention!
2024-04-25T08:00-0500 | Comment by: Joseph
Think, why? Look at Trump Rallies, look at the people there, look at them! It looks like the majority are legal American citizens and hard-working taxpayers! Now. Look at the posters, in the news at the College campuses, are they all Americans or are the majority illegal aliens and or foreign operatives or visa holders with a few American citizens. Look hard! Seriously. Also, the people running the colleges, are they naturalized citizens, or foreign operatives pushing their agenda to undermine Americans and our youth of tomorrow abusing our laws and Bill of Rights? Are the News Media intentionally not investigating this and who are the major contributors to the people dead set against President Trump and our country! We are losing our rights and liberties as operatives abuse our Constitution and Bill of Rights using our own liberties against hard-working taxpaying American Citizens. Wake up, listen, pay attention! Look who are holding the microphones chanting!!