An alleged Senate proposal titled “Resolution of the Columbia University Senate Proposing a Prohibition on Masking in Classrooms and University Events and Condemning Doxxing” calls for a mask ban throughout campus and denounces doxxing.

An alleged proposed Senate resolution obtained by Bwog titled “Resolution of the Columbia University Senate Proposing a Prohibition on Masking in Classrooms and University Events and Condemning Doxxing” seeks to ban face coverings at University events, citing concerns about anonymity during protests and violations of University policies.

The proposal cites numerous occasions wherein “masked individuals have participated in disruptive actions on campus, hindering the University’s ability to identify and hold accountable those responsible,” specifically citing the occupation of Hamilton Hall, the October 7, 2024 protest, and the January 21, 2025 disruption of the History of Modern Israel class.

The proposal specifically “calls upon the Administration to institute and enforce a University-wide policy prohibiting the wearing of masks or any other face coverings that prevent the identification of the wearer in classrooms, academic, and special events.”

In a January 24 email to the student body, Interim President Katrina Armstrong addressed the challenges of identifying masked individuals during on-campus events. She stated that “The Senate Rules of University Conduct Committee, Rules Administrator, and Office of Public Safety continue to work together on University rules and policies that govern demonstrations and on-campus events, including addressing the challenge of identifying masked individuals when potential rule or policy violations are reported. Masking makes it difficult for Public Safety to distinguish between outside demonstrators and members of our university community.”

Although the proposal describes a “Medical Mask Exception” wherein the prohibition is not applied to individuals wearing standard medical masks for health reasons, individuals would be asked to temporarily remove or lower their masks for identification purposes by an “authorized University official” in a “manner that maintains reasonable privacy and dignity.” The proposal did not state a definition for an “authorized University official.”

The proposal obtained by Bwog mentions no provisions for head and face coverings worn for religious purposes, although it does emphasize that nothing in the policy should be “construed to abridge academic freedom, principles of free speech, or the University’s educational mission.”

In response to the alleged proposal, Columbia University Apartheid Divest (CUAD) stated that the ban is “explicitly targeting pro-Palestine activism.” In an official statement to Bwog, CUAD stated, “With a mask ban, Columbia further cements its genocidal support for the Zionist entity over even the health and wellness of our community. Columbia would rather discourage its students, workers, and faculty from protecting themselves from a pandemic, which they have already taken away all accommodations for, than divest from genocide. As a leading public health research university, Columbia has betrayed its own principles and advocacy for the sake of repressing pro-Palestine action on our campus.”

In their statement, CUAD has stated that they call upon the University Senate to reject this proposal and for students and University affiliates “to protest the proposed mask ban and stand in solidarity with Palestine by wearing masks or other face coverings on Monday, January 27.”

In a statement to Bwog, the University Senate stated, “The University Senate is a deliberative body that does its work through its committees. Were a proposal under consideration, this would require significant deliberation in committee and, were it to come to plenary, by the University Senate as a whole. The University Senate follows its normal processes.”

Bwog has reached out to the University administration, who have provided no official comment at this time.

This is a developing story. Bwog will continue to provide updates as more information becomes available.

Image via Bwog Archive