Content warning: Mentions of violence

A non-affiliated individual was injured in the lobby of Jerome Greene Hall following a physical altercation on Thursday afternoon, resulting in an ongoing NYPD investigation. This is a developing story.

On Thursday afternoon, a woman was injured in the lobby of Jerome Greene Hall after a physical altercation. Both the victim and the suspect are believed to be unaffiliated with the University.

According to local news reports, authorities say the victim was a 62-year-old woman who was stabbed multiple times by another woman. On Friday, Law Dean Gillian Lester told students the incident was “an isolated occurrence between individuals who knew one another,” and were “accompanying a member of our community, but were not themselves University affiliates.” 

The victim was taken to Mt. Sinai Hospital, and is now in stable condition. A knife was recovered at the scene. The NYPD and Columbia Department of Public Safety initially responded to the incident, and an investigation is ongoing. 

The 116th entrance to Jerome Greene Hall was closed on Thursday night and resumed normal operations at 7 am Friday morning. Dean Lester reported the incident in an email to Columbia Law School students on Thursday evening, and released additional information via email on Friday morning. In the latter email, Dean Lester reiterated that “there is no ongoing threat to our community or campus.” 

In both emails, Dean Lester provided counseling, health, and psychological resources to Columbia students, faculty, and staff. These resources can be found below. Lester advised students who were taking exams in Jerome Greene Hall at the time that they will “shortly receive guidance” from Registration Services. 

Email from Gillian Lester to Columbia Law School students on May 11, 2023 at 6:46 pm: 

Dear members of the Columbia Law School community,

Late this afternoon, the NYPD and Columbia’s Department of Public Safety responded to a physical altercation between two non-affiliates in the lobby of Jerome Greene Hall that led to injury. Because the police have opened an investigation, we are not able to provide further details at this time except to say that there is no active or continuing threat to the community.

There is no doubt that an incident like this—involving physical violence—is jarring and upsetting. I encourage all members of our community to take advantage of the resources and supportive services that Columbia makes available to students, faculty and staff. I also want to extend our collective concern to the person injured, with the sincere hope that they will make a full and complete recovery.

Students who were completing their exams in JGH when the incident occurred will shortly receive guidance from Registration Services. The 116th Street entrance to JGH will remain closed tonight while the investigation proceeds and will resume normal operations at 7 a.m. tomorrow.

I am deeply grateful to the Law School Building Services staff and Public Safety personnel who responded quickly and effectively. They represent the best of Columbia, which is especially appropriate as we begin Commencement Week—a time to come together in a spirit of fellowship and appreciation.

Sincerely,

Gillian Lester

Dean and Lucy G. Moses Professor of Law

Email from Gillian Lester to Columbia Law School students on May 12, 2023 at 2:07 pm: 

Dear members of the Columbia Law School community,

Yesterday’s instance of violence in the Jerome Greene Hall lobby continues to weigh heavily on my mind, as does the well being of our community.

Student Services and Human Resources have been reaching out to those students and employees who were present during the incident. I once again want to encourage all who might find it helpful to seek out assistance and support. And because we know feelings of trauma can surface well after the fact, please keep the resources below in mind in the days and weeks to come.

The incident remains under active investigation by the police, and it will be for the NYPD to determine whether and what additional details to disclose to the public. Preliminary information that can be shared, however, indicates this was an isolated occurrence between individuals who knew one another. They were accompanying a member of our community, but were not themselves University affiliates. The individuals checked in with the Public Safety officer upon entry and were not permitted to proceed farther than the JGH lobby, per the Law School’s standard access protocols. The University and Public Safety are continuously reviewing campus safety protocols in order to keep our community safe. 

I want to reiterate that there is no ongoing threat to our community or campus, and once again commend our colleagues for their professionalism and swift response to this incident. I can update you, as well, that the person who was injured is stable and in recovery; our thoughts remain with them.

Sincerely,
Gillian Lester
Dean and Lucy G. Moses Professor of Law

Law School via Bwog Archives