President Rosenbury emailed the Barnard community this morning, marking the first direct correspondence from her to students since the April 30 arrests of over 100 students.

Barnard President Laura Rosenbury sent an email to the Barnard community this morning, speaking for the first time since the April 30 arrests and subsequent NYPD occupation of campus. 

“This week’s events on Columbia’s campus have profoundly affected us all, testing our community in ways that none of us could have imagined when the school year began,” Rosenbury stated. Since the beginning of the 2023-2024 academic year, there have been over 200 arrests and suspensions. 

Rosenbury noted that “many” reached out to understand Barnard’s response, and that when she learned of the “heightened activity,” she immediately notified the Barnard community and coordinated closely with Columbia. Over the past two weeks, many of Rosenbury’s correspondences were sent hours after Columbia. While Barnard students received a Community Accountability, Response, and Emergency Services (CARES) alert to shelter in place Tuesday night, they did not receive the message that Columbia students received that non-compliance may result in disciplinary action. 

Rosenbury wrote Barnard is “still gathering information about the students involved” and is “working through the necessary conduct procedures while providing needed support.” At this time, certain Barnard students who were arrested reported no correspondence from the College.

Rosenbury stated the College “already increased” the safety team and limited access to Barnard to BCID holders to “ensure the safety of every member of our community.” While Rosenbury states that “NYPD is not on our campus,” she states that Barnard does “permit them to use the restrooms on the first floor of Barnard Hall and the lower level of Milstein.” This marks Rosenbury’s first acknowledgment of the NYPD on Barnard’s campus. 

Rosenbury highlighted that as the semester is ending, she is “aware of the added stress caused by these events.” She encouraged students to rely on various institutional support services and reminded faculty and staff members of support through the Health Advocate employee assistance program. 

Rosenbury closed her email by recognizing Barnard seniors who “started their journey during a pandemic and now face these difficult circumstances as they prepare to graduate.” Rosenbury claimed she is “dedicated” to honoring and celebrating the 2024 graduates and thanked students, faculty, and staff for their “flexibility and patience” as Barnard adapts to these changes. “Let’s continue to support one another,” Rosenbury wrote. 

Rosenbury’s email comes after she received a unanimous vote of no confidence from the Barnard College chapter of the American Association of University Professors and a majority vote of no confidence from Barnard faculty members. Rosenbury and her administration have yet to publicly address these votes.

Email from Barnard President Laura Rosenbury  to the Barnard Community at 10:59 am on Thursday, May 2:

Dear Members of the Barnard Community,

This week’s events on Columbia’s campus have profoundly affected us all, testing our community in ways that none of us could have imagined when the school year began. 

Many of you have reached out to understand Barnard’s response.  When we learned of the heightened activity, we immediately notified the Barnard community and coordinated closely with Columbia.  We are still gathering information about the students involved and are working through the necessary conduct procedures while providing needed support.  

We had already increased our safety team and limited access to our campus and buildings in an effort to ensure the safety of every member of our community, and we continue to do so.  NYPD is not on our campus, but we do permit them to use the restrooms on the first floor of Barnard Hall and the lower level of Milstein.

As we approach the end of the semester—a time typically focused on exams and future plans—I am aware of the added stress caused by these events.  I encourage our students to utilize the College’s support services and our faculty and staff to take advantage of the support offered through Health Advocate EAP.  

I want to acknowledge our seniors, in particular, who started their journey during a pandemic and now face these difficult circumstances as they prepare to graduate.  We are dedicated to honoring their achievements and celebrating their significant accomplishments despite these challenges.  

Thank you to everyone—students, faculty, and staff—for your flexibility and patience as we adapt our campus protocols and academic formats.  Your resilience is invaluable. 

Let’s continue to support one another. 

Very truly yours, 

Laura Ann Rosenbury

President, Barnard College

Barnard Hall via Bwog Archives