U.S. News
Columbia Issues Ultimatum Amid Pro-Palestinian Protests; Suspension Looms
Clear Facts
- Columbia University has issued an ultimatum to student protesters, threatening suspension and restricted access to campus and activities if they fail to clear their encampment.
- The university has been unable to negotiate a satisfactory resolution with the pro-Palestinian demonstrators protesting the school’s ties with Israel. Over 400 protesters have been arrested, but the demonstrations continue.
- In response, Columbia has proposed accelerating the review process for the Advisory Committee for Socially Responsible Investing and committing to invest in health and education resources for Gaza, while also aiming to address academic freedom and financial barriers.
On Monday, Columbia University took a decisive stance against the ongoing pro-Palestinian protests on its campus. University officials threatened suspension and restricted access to campus facilities and activities for any protesters who failed to clear their encampment by 2 pm Eastern Time.
“If the students do not clear the encampment by 2 p.m. Eastern Time, the university will suspend those students,” according to a notice issued by the university. “Students who fail to identify themselves to university officials and agree to adhere to school policies will be restricted from accessing campus, classes and all official school activities, including commencement.”
Despite extensive dialogues with the protesters, the university has been unable to reach an agreement. The issue at stake is the university’s links to Israel, a point of contention that has brought more than 400 protesters to camp on the university grounds.
Columbia President Minouche Shafik released a statement expressing regret over the failed negotiations. Furthermore, she asserted that the university has no plans to divest its endowment from companies linked to Israel.
“We’ve worked hard to balance these principles,” Shafik wrote. “To that end, since Wednesday, a small group of academic leaders has been in constructive dialogue with student organizers to find a path that would result in the dismantling of the encampment and adherence to University policies going forward. Regretfully, we were not able to come to an agreement.”
Shafik also expressed concern over the potential impact of these protests on the upcoming graduation ceremonies. However, she reassured the university community that the commencement plans remain unaffected.
“We also do not want to deprive thousands of students and their families and friends of a graduation celebration,” she wrote. “We owe it to all of our graduates and their loved ones to honor their achievements. We want to reassure our community who are trying to make plans that we will indeed hold a Commencement.”
In an attempt to pacify the situation, the university has offered to expedite the review process for its Advisory Committee for Socially Responsible Investing. The university also proposed the formation of a faculty committee to discuss academic freedom and financial barriers to academic programs and global centers. Moreover, the university plans to begin investing in health and education resources for Gaza.
Columbia’s president urged the protesters to consider the unwelcoming environment their actions have created for Jewish students and the potential disruptions for the entire student body.
The university’s handling of the situation has sparked controversy within the academic community as well. The school’s Faculty Senate voted 62 to 14 to launch an investigation into President Minouche Shafik’s handling of the situation.
Let us know what you think, please share your thoughts in the comments below.
RR Miller
May 3, 2024 at 6:39 am
This is unable to handle the responsibilities of the office and should be fired.
Robert Cymraeg
May 3, 2024 at 6:46 am
This is not a first for the Principal. They need to resign or be fired. This is a protest not only against the lawful conduct of business by the University but also the US. These ‘protesters’ are supporting g a terrorist organization -viz Hamas. The Palestinian thing is a smokescreen to cover their activities and still should have been shut down immediately.
Betty
May 3, 2024 at 6:49 am
You are the adults – act like one.
Lloyd Brown
May 3, 2024 at 6:56 am
Just a thought . . . Don’t any of these students have parents? At 81 years of age I still remember my parents rule of thumb. To wit: “You’re going away to college to get an education. We’ve saved and scrimpt to prepare to meet the costs of your university experience. Screw it up and your mom and I will take what’s left of that fund and make a well deserved trip around the world. You’ll then be free to work your way through to a commencement on your own. Your choice. Act wisely!”
In my almost still adolecent mind set, I “screwed it up” my sophmore second semester. True to their word, they cut me off financially. I took me five more years to fund my way through to graduation. There’s a message here. Parents, show some backbone.
NavVet
May 3, 2024 at 8:42 am
Well said LLOYD. I also was taught in much the same way. Screw up pay the price. My dad was a firm believer in ” spare the rod lose the child”. To days parents believe you must throw the rod away, there for teaching your children any thing is OK even disrespect to self and all others. Now we have a ” president?” who gives the same lesson by his action and words. Unshackle the parents hands and let them teach that there is for every action an equal and opposite reaction.
Allen Jacobs
May 3, 2024 at 7:34 am
Is this the third or fourth ultimatum? I lose track.
yankg jackson
May 3, 2024 at 7:48 am
If they fail to leave the encampment and let the campus return to normal, bring out the fire truck and hose them down and wash them out of the area. Expel them from the campus, put their records in the fire pit. Those that are students do not deserve to have their records for any reason, burn them. After they have been washed off campus, they need to be arrested. If any student protestors are foreign students, they need to be deported asap. If there are activists that came from other areas, cities, towns and are not students, and are foreign immigrant’s, they need to be deported as well. Students that are citizens need to be arrested and fined, place in jail.
This is a country of laws, this will not be tolerated and those involved need to understand they will be held responsible.
SAMSON
May 3, 2024 at 9:26 am
All a bunch of college sissies. Give them a rake and a shovel and make them do some old fashioned Chain Gang work. You’d probably have to teach him how to hold the shovel and rake.
Donald
May 3, 2024 at 9:28 am
Do what Emory University in Atlanta did including 3 year suspension of students including no access to school property.
Ro Ma
May 3, 2024 at 11:12 am
If they are so strong in their convictions, let them enlist with Hamas, and the IDF will deal with them.
I would be willing to bet a large percentage of them couldn’t find Gaza on a map.
EUGEN
May 3, 2024 at 1:39 pm
THESE POSERS NEVER HAD TO DO A HONEST DAYS WORK. NEVER HAD TO DO ANYTHING. THEY ARE JUST VERY SAD PEOPLE. YES THEY SHOULD GO TO GAZA FIGHT WITH HAMAS. THEY WOULD COME HOME CRYING AND S******G THEIR PANTS.THESE ARE NOT MEN JUST SPOILED KIDS WHO REFUSE TO GROW UP. I GUESS COLLEGES DO NOT TEACH RESPONSIBILITY, JUST ”’KARL MARX” TRASH. VERY SAD, PARENTS LET THEIR KIDS GET BRAINWASHED BY THESE PROFESSORS. THEY WOULD BE BETTER OFF LEARNING A TRADE. HAND’S ON EDUCATION, AT LEAST THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO GET A JOB. BUT ALL THESE PARENTS THINK ABOUT IS MONEY , AND MORE MONEY. VERY SAD.
Born Again
May 3, 2024 at 12:00 pm
The university presidents on the very first day of protests, should have called the fire department and used water cannons on the protesters!!
Jerry DuPree
May 3, 2024 at 2:56 pm
Students are in no position to make any demands. The sole purpose of the students is get an education and the administration and faculty should see to this. If the faculty or administration allows this kind of activity, they should be fired and replaced with common sense individuals and not anyone that goes along with the WOKE movement.
Daniel Gray
May 4, 2024 at 12:00 pm
Its about time someone put their foot down. If these crybabies want to “show their butt” (as my grandmother used to say) fine. let them and then they can accept the responsibility of what happens afterwords. As they have been told “actions have consequences” or the most used one “play stupid games and then win stupid prizes” if they want this on their record for life, then do so but dont blame us when the best job you can get is flipping burgers at McDonalds or Wendys or Burger King