Columbia posted various statements via Instagram, email, and the Department of Public Safety’s website in response to reports that individuals sprayed protesters with a chemical at CU Apartheid Divest’s (CUAD) January 19 protest.

Editor’s warning: mentions of violence

On January 19 at 1 pm, students and faculty gathered on Low Steps for the CU Apartheid Divest (CUAD) emergency protest. Organized in response to Barnard’s Day of Dialogue and Reflection and to support the ongoing CU Tuition Strike, the protest lasted for about 90 minutes as protesters and counter-protesters chanted various slogans. 

Hours after the protest, Columbia Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) made an Instagram post stating that protestors were “stink-bombed” by a substance with an odor that they believed to be “likely permanent.” In the caption, the group added, “To be clear, this is illegal. We are compiling proof at the moment and would appreciate any testimonies or information.” 

Soon, other students began posting on Twitter (X), with user @itslaylas stating that, while reportedly attending the protest, she was “skunk sprayed (sic) for peacefully protesting,” and though she “wasn’t… sprayed directly” with the unknown chemical, she was exhibiting symptoms. The individual initially wrote that “[her] eyes keep on burning” and she was “nauseous.” On Monday, she stated that “[her] body [felt] like it [was] on fire.” She also attested to throwing out sheets, clothes, and a weighted blanket because “they smell[ed] like raw sewage.” 

Twitter (X) user @idleweezy, who also reportedly attended the protest, posted a series of tweets suggesting that they “[had] to go to the hospital” due to “nausea, burning eyes, headaches, and irritation of [their] nose.” According to a further Tweet by the individual, a doctor “confirmed injuries due to chemical exposure,” calling poison control to investigate ingredients.

Columbia reached out to Bwog on Sunday morning in regards to coverage on the protest and the alleged spraying. “We are aware of social media posts on an alleged incident. A single complaint was filed overnight with the university’s department of public safety,” the official commented. They further stated that the University is “conferring with the NYPD” on the matter. The official concluded by stating that the protest on Friday was “unsanctioned and violated university policies and procedures” that are “in place to ensure there is adequate personnel on the ground to keep our community safe.” 

Bwog followed up on this communication by inquiring about whether the “alleged incident” was related to the reports of the use of a chemical substance on protestors and about which specific university policies were violated. The official replied by referencing the Event Policy and Campus Resource FAQ website but did not point to a specific policy. The official later sent a statement from the Public Safety department, which stated that the department was investigating “incidents reported in connection with Friday’s protest that are of great concern.” Further, Public Safety disclosed that they “[have] been actively working with local and federal authorities” during the investigation and that the NYPD was “taking a lead role.” Public Safety also encouraged students to report to “proper authorities,” of which they included the NYPD. They also listed campus resources, which can be found in the copy of the statement below. 

Bwog also contacted the NYPD for details on the alleged spraying of a chemical at Friday’s protest. The NYPD official stated that on Friday, January 19 at 1:50 pm, they received one report of a 24-year-old female who was allegedly sprayed with a substance and later refused medical attention. They also communicated that an investigation is ongoing, but no arrests have been made. 

Later on Sunday evening, Columbia SJP made another Instagram post with a picture featuring a faceless person in a medical gown. In the caption, the group claimed that an SJP member was hospitalized with “severe lightheadedness, nausea, tightness in the chest, and abnormal heart rate,” reportedly due to “[a] chemical weapon.” The post alleged that “former IOF [Israeli Occupying Forces] soldiers,” a replacement term for the IDF sometimes used by people in support of Palestine, used a “chemical weapon” against the protestors at Friday’s demonstration. On Monday afternoon, SJP posted an image of an individual in a hospital setting, stating in the caption that the person pictured is a BC/CU Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP) member. The post claimed that the individual was taken to the hospital in an ambulance on Monday, citing “severely blurred vision, dizziness, headache, nausea, and irritated skin.” Further, it alleged that the hospitalized individual was “verbally berated and harassed by the perpetrators of this attack while holding a ‘CU Jews for Ceasefire’ banner.”

Monday afternoon, SJP attested on Instagram that two other students—who they identified as a Columbia member of JVP and a SIPA co-president of SIPA Palestine Working Group (PWG)—had been “rushed to the hospital in an ambulance.” The caption claimed that the Columbia student “is experiencing a persistent, debilitating headache and nausea,” while the SIPA student “required a chest x-ray, nebulizer, and EKG due to toxic chemical inhalation.” The caption further stated, “More students are reporting that they are vomiting and returning to urgent care after having already gone.” The Instagram post included images of two students in hospital settings. 

Shortly after the post regarding hospitalized students, SJP published an Instagram post, claiming, “We want to make it clear that Columbia University facilitated the chemical attack on Friday through sustained negligence and emboldenment of Zionist hatred for months.” SJP continued, attesting that the University was “currently ignoring the emails of students begging for guidance as they are rushed to the hospital” and “delet[ing] death threat comments on its posts rather than hold[ing] the commenter accountable,” attaching examples of these comments on their post. “Palestinian and anti-Zionist students are still not safe from Israeli soldiers on American college campuses,” SJP concluded.

One hour after SJP’s Instagram post on Sunday evening, Columbia posted a short statement on their social media platform summarizing Public Safety’s update on the investigation of “incidents of great concern” in connection with the January 19 protest. The post encouraged viewers to view the full statement on the website, which can be found below.

On Monday evening, Barnard Vice Presidents Sarah Gillman and Marina Catallozzi sent an email to the Barnard community regarding the preceding events. According to the email, “several protesters reported being sprayed with a substance and experiencing a foul smell and physical symptoms.” Gillman and Catallozzi stated this to be “extremely concerning,” citing community safety as a priority. The email further stated that Barnard is “working closely” with Columbia to “investigate the incident” and “will continue to support Barnard students that we know have been affected.” The full text of the email can be found below. 

Two hours later, Columbia Interim Provost Dennis Mitchell sent an email to Columbia students about the alleged spraying. The Interim Provost reiterated Columbia Public Safety’s statement about the NYPD’s involvement in “investigating what appear to have been serious crimes, possibly hate crimes.” He also reported that the alleged perpetrators were immediately banned from campus after the University “received additional information” on Sunday night.

Further, Mitchell stated that the University “condemn[s]… any threats or acts of violence directed toward anyone in [the Columbia] community,” adding that community members’ safety is “paramount.” The full text of this statement can be found below.

After Provost Mitchell’s email, SJP and JVP issued a public media statement through their Instagram. In the statement, SJP and JVP wrote, “We are outraged and horrified that eight Columbia students have been hospitalized and dozens more have sought urgent medical attention after two former Israeli military soldiers violently attacked a peaceful campus protest with an illegal chemical-based weapon.” The organization attested that the aforementioned students are “traumatized, sick, and have hospital bills to cover on top of schoolwork.” 

In their statement, SJP and JVP called upon the University to “take meaningful, serious steps towards accountability” and to “repair the damage it has done.” The organizations further expressed concern at the lack of statements on the matter from US elected officials, stating that representatives who conducted “McCarthyite hearings intended to smear and silence Palestinian student advocacy… so far have nothing to say of the two former Israeli soldiers who just attacked dozens of US students.” The statement concluded by stating that “Columbia must do more to… hold these former Israeli military soldiers responsible for their targeted assault on Columbia students” and “ensure that all students on campus are able to speak freely and safely.”

This is a developing story.

Update made on Wednesday, January 24 at 10:38 am:

The National Students for Justice in Palestine organization has issued a statement on their Instagram “charg[ing] Columbia’s complicity in [a] hate crime on campus.” In their statement, National SJP claimed University correspondence “still fails to identify the cause of the life-threatening harm done to Columbia students.” SJP further claimed that the University “has aided and abetted this racist attack against its own students through its negligence and inaction.”

The statement concluded by listing demands for the administration, such as launching an investigation and pursuing legal action, as well as declaring “constant hateful attacks” as an “immediate threat.” SJP called for Columbia to enact policies to protect pro-Palestinian speech, the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement, and Palestinian, Arab, and Muslim students. Finally, they called on Columbia to meet CUAD’s demands of supporting a ceasefire, divesting from “companies profiting from israeli (sic) apartheid,” canceling the Tel Aviv Global Center opening and Tel Aviv dual-degree partnership, and reinstating Columbia SJP and JVP, among others. Almost 200 organizations signed this letter, including Columbia University Irving Medical Center.

Update made on Wednesday, January 31 at 1:50 pm:
On January 30, Public Safety issued an update notifying individuals “that the University will not take any retaliatory action against any participant in the January 19 protest who reports information to the NYPD” during the investigation of the alleged chemical attack. Students are advised to contact the NYPD 26th Precinct, NYPD Detective Squad, or the Public Safety Interim Director of Investigations Daniel Ayala to report information.

Columbia Public Safety Update on Investigation of Incidents Reported in Connection with Friday’s Protest: 

January 21, 2024

The Department of Public Safety is investigating incidents reported in connection with Friday’s protest that are of great concern.

Public Safety received an initial complaint on Friday night, with additional complaints filed on Sunday.  The Department has been actively working with local and federal authorities in this investigation, with the NYPD taking a lead role.

While the investigation is proceeding, we continue to seek the university community’s support: Reporting is essential so that the proper authorities — including the NYPD — can track down the facts and take action as necessary.

It is important for people to come forward if they have any information, and we are grateful to the members of our community who already have.  For those in our community who feel in any way impacted, there are emotional support resources available to you 24/7: 

Morningside and Manhattanville students: Columbia Health Counseling and Psychological Services offers individual counseling, support groups, and drop-in hours. Call 212-854-2878 if you are experiencing high levels of distress and need immediate assistance.

CUIMC students: Student Health on Haven offers support sessions, individual counseling, and support groups.  Call 212-305-3400 if you are experiencing high levels of distress and need immediate assistance.

In addition, please reach out to your Dean of Students as an additional resource for support.

Email from Barnard Vice Presidents Sarah Gillman and Marina Catallozzi to the Barnard community on Monday, January 22 at 5:03 pm:

Dear Members of the Barnard Community:

Many of you have heard that on Friday, January 19 on Low Steps on Columbia’s campus, several protesters reported being sprayed with a substance and experiencing a foul smell and physical symptoms. This is extremely concerning as the safety and well-being of all members of our community is our utmost priority. We are working closely with Columbia University as they investigate the incident further and we will continue to support Barnard students that we know have been affected.

We encourage individuals who wish to report any information related to this incident to call Community Safety at 212-854-6666. Please see here for more detailed information about an investigation of these reported incidents that is underway, posted by Columbia University. 

Any Barnard student with physical complaints related to the incident should contact Primary Care Health Service (PCHS) to see or speak to a provider. Patients can be seen in PCHS between 9:30am and 4:30pm Monday through Friday. PCHS providers are available to speak with students for after-hours care through AccessNurse by calling the main PCHS number at 212-854-2091.  

We also encourage students to seek support from these available resources as needed:

Sincerely,

Sarah Gillman

Senior Vice President, Strategic Finance and Operations
 

Marina Catallozzi

Vice President for Health and Wellness

Chief Health Officer

Email from Interim Provost Dennis A. Mitchell to the Columbia community on Monday, January 22 at 7:21 pm:

Dear fellow members of the Columbia community,

I write to follow up on my earlier message that affirmed Columbia’s commitment to engaging in free expression in a safe and respectful manner. 

As some of you may be aware, a deeply troubling incident occurred on the steps of Low Library on Friday. Numerous Columbia and Barnard students who attended a protest later reported being sprayed with a foul-smelling substance that required students to seek medical treatment. After the Department of Public Safety received an initial complaint late Friday night, the University immediately initiated steps to investigate the incident, and has since been actively working with local and federal authorities. The New York City Police Department is taking the lead role in investigating what appear to have been serious crimes, possibly hate crimes.

The University received additional information Sunday night. As a result, the alleged perpetrators identified to the University were immediately banned from campus while the law enforcement investigation proceeds.  

We continue to urge those who have relevant information – including pictures, videos, and clothing – to share that with the Department of Public Safety and NYPD. We are grateful to the members of our community who have done so already.  

We condemn in the strongest possible terms any threats or acts of violence directed toward anyone in our community. The University is committed to taking urgent action with the appropriate authorities in any such cases. The safety of every single member of this community is paramount.

Our student health offices have support resources for members of our community who feel impacted by recent events, including: 

• Morningside and Manhattanville students: Columbia Health supports students’ physical and mental well-being.  Columbia Health Counseling and Psychological Services offers individual counseling, support groups, and drop-in hours. Call 212-854-2878 if you are experiencing high levels of distress and need immediate assistance.
• CUIMC students: Student Health on Haven offers support sessions, individual counseling, and support groups.  Call 212-305-3400 if you are experiencing high levels of distress and need immediate assistance.
• In addition, please reach out to your Dean of Students as an additional resource for support.

Sincerely,

Dennis A. Mitchell, DDS, MPH (he/him)

Interim Provost

Professor of Dental Medicine at CUMC

CUAD Apartheid Divest protest via Bwog Staff.