Students rally outside President Shafik’s house for the semesterly primal scream to protest the April 30 arrests. Read live updates here.

Update made on Friday, May 3 at 11:40 pm:

According to NBC News, a University source and two members of student government have claimed that they are unsure Commencement on the Morningside campus can occur at this time. The members of student government reportedly told NBC News that the administration was anticipating security concerns due to potential protests and is allegedly in the process of looking for an alternate venue.

In a May 2 update to the University community, the Office of the President stated that “offices across Columbia are committed to ensuring that all ceremonies run smoothly.” This same message was reiterated to NBC News when the division reached out to the University for comment. Bwog has reached out to the University for comment.

Update made on Friday, May 3 at 7:20 pm:

Columbia President Minouche Shafik Addresses Student Body In New Video

Earlier this afternoon, President Shafik took to Instagram to address Columbia’s student body in a new video, her first since the NYPD arrested over 100 student protesters in Hamilton Hall on Tuesday night. Though she did not address the arrests directly, she claimed student protesters “crossed a new line” when occupying Hamilton Hall. Shafik also said she hopes the University can become a place “where people who disagree do so civilly, recognize each other’s humanity, and show empathy and compassion for one another.” 

The video comes two days after Shafik addressed the student body via email, in which she thanked the NYPD for its “professionalism” and said she hoped the University could continue its “ongoing dialogue on… the balance between free speech and discrimination and the role of a university in contributing to better outcomes in the Middle East.”

In today’s video, Shafik stated that prior to the occupation of Hamilton Hall on April 30, Columbia’s administration had “tried very hard to resolve the issue of the Encampment through dialogue,” and that ultimately, “the University made a sincere and good offer, but it was not accepted.” 

Addressing the occupation itself, Shafik said, “A group of protesters crossed a new line,” in a “violent act that put our students at risk, as well as putting the protesters at risk.” She also called the damage to Hamilton Hall, which she was photographed observing the day after the arrests, as “distressing.” 

Shafik then said she has “confidence” for the future after speaking to students in “listening sessions.” She praised students who “acknowledged that the other side had some valid points,” claiming, “Here at Columbia, parallel realities and parallel conversations have walled us off from other perspectives.”

Looking forward, Shafik stated that while Columbia cannot single-handedly solve “the issues that are challenging us,” specifically naming “the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, antisemitism, anti-Arab and anti-Muslim bias,” the University can “be an exemplar of a better world.” The president concluded, “We have a lot to do, but I am committed to working at it every day, and with each of you, to rebuild community on our campus.” 

Shafik later shared a link to the video—which has already stirred controversy on social media—with students via email.

Transcript of Shafik’s video statement to students on May 3, 2024: 

These past two weeks have been among the most difficult in Columbia’s history. The turmoil and tension, division and disruption, have impacted the entire community. You, the students, have paid an especially high price. You lost your final days in the classroom and residence halls. For those of you who are seniors, you’re finishing college the way you started: online. No matter where you stand on any issue, Columbia should be a community that feels welcoming and safe for everyone. We tried very hard to resolve the issue of the Encampment through dialogue. Many people who gathered there were largely peaceful and cared deeply about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Academic leaders talked with students for eight days and nights. The university made a sincere and good offer, but it was not accepted. A group of protesters crossed a new line with the occupation of Hamilton Hall. It was a violent act that put our students at risk as well as putting the protesters at risk. I walked through the building and saw the damage, which was distressing. 

But despite all that has happened, I have confidence. During the listening sessions I held with many students in recent months, I’ve been heartened by your intelligence, thoughtfulness, and kindness. The ones that impressed me most were those who acknowledged that the other side had some valid points. We need more of that at Columbia. Every one of us has a role to play in bringing back the values of truth and civil discourse that polarization has severely damaged. Here at Columbia, parallel realities and parallel conversations have walled us off from other perspectives. Working together, I know we can break down these barriers. As many of you know, I was born in the Middle East. I grew up in a Muslim family, with many Jewish and Christian friends. I spent two decades working in international organizations with people from every nationality and religion in the world, where if you can’t bridge divides and see the other side’s point of view, you can’t get anything done. I learned from that experience that people can disagree and still make progress. The issues that are challenging us—the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, antisemitism, anti-Arab and anti-Muslim bias—have existed for a long time, and Columbia, despite being a remarkable institution, cannot solve them singlehandedly. What we can do is be an example of a better world, where people who disagree do so civilly, recognize each other’s humanity, and show empathy and compassion for one another. We have a lot to do, but I am committed to working at it every day, and with each of you, to rebuild community on our campus.

Barnard Art Installation

At 2:30 pm, Barnard students held a picnic on Diana Steps, displaying art condemning President Laura Rosenbury. The “Vote of No Confidence Picnic” included signs stating, “Majoring in ‘unafraid’… to evict, arrest, suspend, criminalize students,” a play on Barnard’s motto that students “major in unafraid.” Other signs included “102-0,” the number of the unanimous vote of no confidence held by the Barnard chapter of the American Association for University Professors. Shortly after this vote, the majority of Barnard faculty members also voted no confidence in President Rosenbury.

Update made on Friday, May 3 at 1:06 pm:

Ferris Booth Commons accessibility

Columbia Dining announced Ferris Booth Commons access is available for all Columbia Dining Plan Holders today, effective at noon. Students can access Ferris through the Lerner Hall Auditorium Lobby between 114th and 115th Streets. Barnard students are not able to access the dining hall at this time due to campus access restrictions.

Campus updates

At 8 am, the Office of the President sent out an email to the Columbia community regarding campus updates. The email stated that the previous days’ updates will remain the same, with the addition of Ferris being accessible to all Columbia students and faculty members being permitted inside campus gates, per COO Cas Holloway’s earlier email.

Update made on Friday, May 3 at 9:20 am:

Primal scream outside President Shafik’s house

Primal scream, a semesterly campus-wide scream that begins the midnight before the first day of finals, took place on May 3 today. This year, the scream was met with exclamations of both “Free Palestine” and “Fuck Palestine,” among others.

Students spontaneously gathered in an impromptu protest outside of the President’s House on 116th and Morningside Drive. It is unconfirmed whether or not President Shafik currently resides at this address.

Screams began after a ten-second countdown and were alternated with chants of “Shame on you,” “Minouche Shafik, KKK, IOF, they’re all the same,” “Minouche Shafik, what do you say, how many kids will you kill today?” and “Shut it down.” Participants also called for President Shafik to resign.

Shortly after the primal scream began, NYPD and Public Safety officers arrived at the scene, standing in front of the President’s House but not engaging with demonstrators. This year’s primal scream ended at around 12:55 am.

Image via Elias Reville