Live updates of events surrounding the Gaza Solidarity Encampment continue as new developments occur.

Update made on Tuesday, April 30 at 4:42 am: Public Safety advisory

Public Safety sent a message to students and affiliates advising them to not come to the Morningside campus on April 30 unless necessary. Essential personnel are still expected to work. They also added that campus access and “other campus buildings” could be under restrictions. Campus has been restricted through locked gates on 116th and Broadway, 115th and Broadway, and 114th Street since Monday, April 15, two days before President Shafik’s congressional hearing.

Update made on Tuesday, April 30 at 4:35 am: Hamilton protest

The crowd has somewhat dispersed from the blockade outside of Hamilton, as of around 4 am. NYPD is not on campus, but Public Safety officers have been spotted in several areas. Many of the protesters are still at the Sundial on College Walk. We will continue updates.

Update made on Tuesday, April 30 at 3:26 am:

Hamilton Hall

At around 3 am, a student standing outside of the Undergraduate Admissions Entrance to Hamilton spoke into a megaphone, asking “Why are we here today?” The crowd responded “Palestine.” The speaker stated that “Palestine is leading the struggle against US Imperialism.” They announced that “today is the 206th day of the ongoing genocide,” and that they will sit outside Hamilton “however long it takes to show that [they] are in full solidarity with Palestine, and that we are here for our comrades who have bravely occupied the building.” 

The speaker also referenced Hind Rajab, whom students referenced on a banner hung outside a Hamilton window, saying that “we owe it to all our martyrs because we will continue to honor our martyrs and fight like hell for the living.”

The speaker further stated that “one day… we will have our press conferences… in Jerusalem.”

John Jay intruder video

At 3:15 am, a Public Safety officer told Bwog that they have “taken care” of the John Jay intruder situation. The officer did not elaborate.

116th and Broadway

At 3:15 am, Bwog witnessed the NYPD deploy a drone on 116th and Broadway. 

Update made on Tuesday, April 30 at 3:10 am:

At around 2 am, individuals were seen climbing into the windows of John Jay Hall from the street, according to an X post shared on Viral News NYC. Bwog inquired Public Safety about reports of individuals breaking into John Jay Hall; a Public Safety officer denied that anybody had gotten in. 

At the Sundial, protesters sang, “We shall not be moved.” On College Walk, faculty members sang, “Somewhere there’s a child crying.”

At around 3 am, students outside of Hamilton sang “We shall not be moved.” Led by a protester with a megaphone from the balcony above, protesters began singing additional songs.

Update made on Tuesday, April 30 at 2:44 am:

CUAD press release

At 2:07 am, CUAD posted to X a press release about the occupation of Hamilton Hall. The press release mentions how the protesters “reclaimed Hind’s Hall, previously known as ‘Hamilton Hall,’” a reference to Hind Rajab, a Palestinian child who was killed at the age of six years old in January of this year. The statement also referenced past student protests in 1968, 1985, and 1992, “which Columbia once repressed yet celebrates today.” The statement reiterated protesters’ commitment to remaining in Hamilton Hall until the demands of CUAD—“divestment, financial transparency, and amnesty”—are met. 

The press release states that “[r]esistance is justified in the movement for liberation,” citing the increased NYPD presence, CUID checks at Columbia gates, and student arrests on Thursday. They also mention that the University is “weaponizing food insecurity and houselesness [sic] as leverage in negotiations.” It states that the University “has forced protesters to escalate” due to their refusal to divest and “follow baseline standards of conduct that make negotiation possible.”

The statement continues by stating that “CUAD’s encampment is a peaceful form of protest as demonstrated over the last 12 days.” CUAD asked the press and the public “to hold Columbia accountable for any disproportionate response to students’ actions today” and urged Columbia administrators and trustees to “not incite another Kent or Jackson State” by calling on the NYPD or National Guard. They write, “Students’ blood will be on your hands.”

CUAD thanks the “brave students and community members” who participated in the protest and “put themselves in harm’s way to protest Columbia’s complicity.” They emphasize the urgency of their actions in light of “Israel’s planned invasion of Rafah.” 

The statement calls for the University to “open the gates, end the occupation, and welcome the free movement of all people,” and declares their solidarity with the Palestinian people.

Hamilton Hall and Sundial update

Around 2:19 am, students on the fifth floor of Hamilton Hall opened the windows, shouting “Palestine is our fight, students of the world unite.”

A speaker at the Sundial appeared to address the students on the fifth floor, shouting, “We have another lawn [Lewisohn] because of you.”

Update made on Tuesday, April 30 at 2:32 am:

Progress has been restored to updates that were lost due to a website malfunction.

Hamilton Hall

Students gained access to Hamilton Hall around 12:30 am. A window was shattered on the right door. Protesters gathered tables that are typically on the lawn outside of Hamilton and used those to barricade the door. Other students are crowded around the entrances. Hamilton Hall was previously occupied during the 1968 student protests at Columbia. It currently houses several classrooms and administrative offices. Eventually, the few student demonstrators who entered the building shuttered the windows and used paper to cover the other windows. They also unfurled several banners and flags, including the Palestinian flag from one window, a flag reading “Gaza calls, Columbia falls,” and a banner that reads “Hind’s Hall” from one window, and a vertical banner that reads “Intifada” from another window.

Non-demonstrating students gathered outside on the lawns to observe as the protesters chanted several slogans, such as “Disclose, divest, we will not stop, we will not rest,” “One solution, revolution,” and “There is only one solution, intifada revolution,” among several others.

A protester with a megaphone spoke from the balcony above Hamilton Hall’s main entrance, leading a call and response chant with protesters gathered below, saying “This building is liberated in honor of Hind, a 6-year-old Palestinian child murdered in Gaza by the Israeli Occupation Forces funded by Columbia University,” followed by chants of, “We will honor all the martyrs, all the children, sons, and daughters.” Protesters later chanted, “We will not leave until Columbia meets every one of our demands,” followed with cheering from protesters outside of Hamilton. Around 2:15 am, protesters inside of the building led a chant of “Free, free Palestine,” “Gaza, Gaza, you will rise, Palestine will never die.”

Sundial speaker

As of 2:05 am, protesters who were picketing around Butler Lawns began sitting down around the Sundial. An individual began giving a speech. “We’re out here picketing and taking over things. We have made our demands very clear,” they stated. The speaker restated protesters’ demands, chanting that if they don’t get the demands, they will “shut it down.” 

“We will continue to escalate,” the speaker said. “We have to remember. Everything we are doing is for Gaza and Palestine.”

116th and Amsterdam protest

On 116th and Amsterdam, a group of around 20 protesters and 10 NYPD officers stood outside of the Columbia gates. Outside the Amsterdam and 116th gates, a group of protesters chanted, “Students students make us proud, Columbia back down.”

As of 2 am, the NYPD had not entered Columbia University’s campus.

Counter-protester removal

Some tables were moved to block counter-protesters between Hamilton Hall doors, as they did not leave the entrance. 

At 1:19 am, a counter-protester appears to have been forcibly removed from the entrance of Hamilton, leaving one counter-protester. The counter-protester yelled “Why are you doing this” as he was removed. Protesters chanting “shut it down” continued to attempt to remove remaining counter-protesters. At 1:24 am, the remaining counter-protester left of his own accord. 

Shortly after at 1:26 am, protesters remade the barricade in the entrance of Hamilton where the counter protesters had previously occupied, zip-tying picnic tables to the door. 

Lewisohn Hall Encampment

At around 1 am, protesters had set up about 16 to 17 tents on the lawn in front of Lewisohn Hall, expanding the Encampment. There are currently few people in the new Encampment. Protesters set up flags as well while more tents and blankets were brought from the original Encampment. 

At Lewisohn Lawn, protesters were seen huddling under umbrellas to avoid being photographed. Palestinian flags similar to those from the West Lawn Encampment were set up on hedges, lampposts, and statues on the lawn. 

Hamilton Hall blockade

At around 1 am, protesters outside of Hamilton Hall began setting up tables on top of trash cans and using picnic tables to blockade doors. Counter-protesters attempted to prevent the blockades from being set up. Protesters nearby chanted “Minouche Shafik, what do you say? How many kids did you kill today?” At around 1:18 am, students started removing the picnic tables and formed a circle blockade around the counter-protesters. 

Protesters outside of Hamilton Hall then moved trash cans in front of the Hamilton doors and zip-tied the trash cans together, strengthening the blockade.

“Repeat after me,” a speaker in front of Hamilton Hall stated. “This building is now liberated. We will not leave until Columbia meets every one of our demands.”

SJP and CUAD announcement

At around 12:40 am, SJP and CUAD posted to their Instagram an announcement of the occupation of Hamilton Hall by an “autonomous group of students” who have “taken matters into their own hands.” SJP and CUAD stated that this is “after Columbia’s persistent refusal to divest, complicity in genocide, and continued violence against its students.” The statement reads, “This escalation is in line with the historical student movements of 1968, 1985, and 1996, which Columbia repressed then and celebrates today.” The statement is accompanied by photos of the 1968 occupation of Hamilton Hall by Vietnam War protesters. The statement affirms that protesters “will remain in Hamilton until the University divests from death.” 

The post continued to explain that Columbia’s negotiations have been “in bad faith,” referencing threats of mass suspension and eviction and the National Guard. “These actions,” the post stated, “are the latest in the University’s 7 month complicity in Israel’s ongoing genocidal assault on the Gaza strip.”

The post further stated that these students will be remembered by the University “as anti-apartheid, anti-genocide activists with moral clarity,” and added that “the real test is how Columbia chooses to respond.” This post also includes a video of protesters carrying blockades into Hamilton Hall, including NYPD barricades. 

The post concluded by stating that the Hamilton Hall occupation “reflects the student body’s overwhelming support for divestment” and that CUAD “stand[s] with these students.”

At around 1 am, SJP and CUAD also posted an “urgent call for mobilization” to their Instagram accounts. They shared “action items” to their followers, including joining the ongoing picket outside of Hamilton Hall, joining the sit-in inside Hamilton, and “defending” the original Encampment on the West Lawn. They also stated that “this is a highly dynamic situation and there is no fixed level of risk” and shared ways that participants might “mitigate risk.”

Facilities members and students inside of Hamilton Hall

Around 12:40 am, a member of facilities reportedly announced to those outside of Hamilton that he had been taken hostage inside Hamilton Hall. He stated, “No I’m not okay, my mental is not okay.” It is unconfirmed whether or not he was instructed inside Hamilton or if he was there when it was occupied. At around 1:10 am, WKCR reported that two Facilities employees that were inside Hamilton Hall exited the building, along with a group of people who reported they were in the building studying. 

Update made on Tuesday, April 30 at 12:50 am:

At around 12:15 am on April 30, Gaza Solidarity Encampment protesters began moving tents from the main Encampment on West Lawn to the Lewisohn Lawn. At the same time, another group of protesters from the Encampment began occupying Hamilton Hall, breaking multiple windows and barricading the doors with various pieces of furniture from inside the building. Meanwhile, additional protesters began forming human barricades in front of the doors. 

Other protesters began to picket around the Sundial and near Butler Library. A keffiyeh was placed on Alma Mater. Protestors surrounded the sculpture, chanting “Students we see you, we are here to support you.”

Update made on Tuesday, April 30 at 12:44 am: Students occupying Hamilton

Students have began occupying Hamilton, breaking a window to get into the building. Protesters have formed a human barricade outside of the building. This comes after students left the West Lawn around 12:25 am. Some encircle the lawns chanting, “Free free Palestine,” “Disclose, divest, we will not stop, we will not rest,” and “Hey hey, ho ho, the occupation has got to go.”

Other demonstrators have climbed the Alma Mater statue and placed a keffiyeh on it. Students are still barricading Hamilton.

Legal observers identified by neon green arm bands are on the site.

Update made on Monday, April 29 at 10:21 pm: Office of the President email

On Monday night, the Office of the President sent an email to students affirming the earlier press briefing’s announcement that the University has begun suspending some students in the Encampment. Columbia students will have the option to arbitrate their suspensions with either the Office of University Life and Student Conduct or the University Senate, depending on the “nature of the offense.”

Update made on Monday, April 29 at 7:38 pm: Petition for General Studies Dean Lisa Rosen-Metsch to resign

Columbia University Apartheid Divest (CUAD) and CU Turath, an Arab cultural association, posted a petition on Instagram calling for the resignation of Dean Lisa Rosen-Metsch from Columbia University School of General Studies (GS). The Instagram post states that Rosen-Metsch “discriminates on the basis of race, national origin, and religion.” 

The post references the reported verbal and physical attack against students wearing keffiyehs at the GS Gala on April 20 and states that Rosen-Metsch “has continually refused to meet with targeted students and has become unresponsive to email.” The post claims that administration “has had access to the list of identified attackers” since April 21. Attached is a photo of said list with names blacked out, and the post notes that “[a]ll but one [listed person] are ex-IDF or IDF reserves.”

The post continues and claims that Rosen-Metsch “often refuses to engage with Arab students,” citing the alleged chemical attacks at a CUAD protest in January that she has not yet “publicly address[ed].” The post claims that Rosen-Metsch “never reached out to the victims [of the alleged chemical attack]” and that she “requested Public Safety to prevent an Arab student from talking to her at a private alumni event.”

Additionally, the post attests that Rosen-Metsch “is under investigation for discrimination of an Arab student.” The post also claims that GS “refunded the tuition of IDF members” who fought in Israel after October 7 “under her advocacy,” noting that the refund deadline for tuition had already passed.

The post closes by asking viewers to sign the petition linked in their Instagram bio “to ensure the safety and equality of Arab and Muslim students at Columbia.”

Update made on Monday, April 29 at 7:29 pm: Congressmembers’ notice to the Board of Trustees

A select number of 21 Democratic congressmembers sent a notice to the Columbia Board of Trustees highlighting their “disappointment” that the Encampment of “anti-Israel, anti-Jewish activists on campus” has not been disbanded. According to the letter, the “disruption” on campus is an “apparent violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act,” which “prohibits discrimination based on race, color, or national origin in programs or activities that receive federal financial assistance.”

The congressmembers stated that the Encampment is a “breeding ground for antisemitic attacks” on campus and claimed that the chant “from the river to the sea” is a “cry to eliminate Israel and all Jews within its borders.” The congressmembers defended a statement from White House and stated that while the “First Amendment guarantee freedom of speech,” it does not guarantee the “freedom to harass and intimidate other students.” The congressmembers claimed that the “University has allowed the encampment to create an environment that appears to violate its legal obligations to protect all students from discrimination and harassment.”

The congressmembers called on the Board of Trustees “to act,” and stated if they are “unwilling to do this, they should resign.”

Update made on Monday, April 29 at 7:24 pm: Public affairs press briefing

At 5 pm today, Columbia’s Office of Public Affairs issued a press briefing announced by Vice President of Communications Ben Chang. In the 15 minute briefing, Chang stated the University’s “next phase of efforts.” He reiterated the remarks made by President Shafik in her email this morning sent to Columbia affiliates which stated that if protesters did not leave West Butler Lawn by 2 pm today, then they would be subject to suspension. He added, “We have begun suspending students as part of the next phase of our actions.” Students that are suspended, he stated, will be “ineligible to complete the semester or graduate.”

Chang explained that disciplinary action for student suspension must go through the University Senate and the Office of University Life and Conduct, emphasizing that these actions are approved by multiple University groups. He added that the Chair of the Student Affairs Committee stated that “all parties engaged in good faith negotiations,” relating to previous claims by Encampment organizers that the administration had not been doing so.

At the end of the briefing, Chang noted that the University remains in “close contact” with city and state officials, additional safety resources will continue to be available for Columbia community members, and the on-campus media window will remain open from 2 pm to 4 pm daily.

Update made on Monday, April 29 at 4:49 pm: Campus protests update

Bwog spoke to a counter-protester named Justin Kron about why he chose to protest today. Kron responded, “My reason for being here today is actually I’m a Christian and I stand with the Jewish students on campus who believe that Israel has the right to exist and that Jewish students should be able to walk around campus, be on campus, campus without fearing for their lives or their safety.” At around 3:37 pm, one counter-protester climbed on top of a ledge in front of Butler Library, waving an Israeli flag. A counter-protester reportedly referred to the pro-Palestine demonstrators as a “mob” with “group think mentality.”

Columbia University Emergency Medical Service staff and NYCLU protest observers are also present on the scene.

At around 3:50 pm, an assembly began at the Sundial. “We are not afraid of our administration. We are not afraid of our bosses. We are not afraid of the police,” a speaker said, stating that protesters would be there until at least 7 pm. While pickets slowed down at around 4 pm, a speaker advised students to be ready at the moment’s notice to begin again. A speaker declared that protesters are “in solidarity with everyone on this campus, students, faculty, and student workers,” acknowledging those “throwing their bodies across the gears of this machine.”

A counter-protester briefly interrupted the assembly, yelling “Long live Israel.” In response, the crowd chanted, “We’ll be back.” Someone inside the Encampment shouted, “We ain’t going nowhere!”

Update made on Monday, April 29 at 4:31 pm: CUAD presser

At 2:30 pm on Monday, April 29, CUAD organizers held a press conference to discuss the end of negotiations and the University’s plans to clear the Gaza Solidarity Encampment. Read more.

Update made on Monday, April 29 at 3:00 pm: Campus protests

On Monday, April 29 at 1 pm, students led a rally at the Sundial in support of the Encampment. The rally was organized in response to an announcement from President Shafik at 8:05 am that stated that the University would not divest and that all students must leave the Encampment by 2 pm and self-identify or face suspension.

Protesters gathered around the Sundial and began shouting “From the river to the sea.” A speaker announced that the University was not willing to negotiate in good faith and mentioned that the University threatened eviction, more arrests, and calling upon the National Guard. Someone shouted, “We remain undeterred.”

Grant Miner, a speaker from the Student Workers Union who said he had been suspended and arrested, stated that President Shafik “put a lot of weight on the fact that we are no longer negotiating.” He went on to say that “if you’re negotiating [and the National Guard is threatened], that is not bargaining in good faith.”

Miner called for amnesty for past and future protesters, stating that, “Our power as students and workers does not lie just as negotiation tables [but also with] full solidarity with the Encampment.” The crowd then started chants such as “Disclose, divest, we will not stop, we will not rest” and “We demand liberation from the Zionist occupation.”

Another student speaker stated that they were an undergraduate worker in SWC who had been arrested and suspended. They announced that “undergrad workers have been at the forefront of this fight” and that SWC “will not stand for any of this.” They ended by stating that the University “is threatening some of the most vulnerable members of our community with eviction” and called for protesters to “be out here every single fucking day.”

A third speaker, Shana Redmond, who introduced herself as a scholar of Black radical tradition, professor of comparative politics, and former Yale organizer, announced that “[this is] teaching and living history in real time.” Redmond stated that she was “proud to be standing with [protesters] in allyship and shared belief” and reiterated the University’s end to negotiations, stating, “It didn’t have to go this way.” Redmond also congratulated protesters for “[igniting] a global movement,” referencing a new encampment in Tokyo.

A final speaker, who introduced themselves as a PhD student at Columbia who was suspended and arrested, said that students leading Columbia University Apartheid Divest (CUAD) “have been so brave” over the past six months. They spoke about the process of being arrested, saying that the process left “an incredible amount of psychological trauma that [students] will have for the rest of their lives.” They also referenced the disciplinary letters handed out at the Encampment this morning.

The speaker also stated that “the majority of the students originally arrested were women and nonbinary people of color.” They then talked about academic departments at the University, noting that some departments “especially natural sciences, have not [acknowledged positionality].” The speaker called this “hurtful.”

The speaker then stated that although they “could’ve left [the Encampment] and been fine,” he then “thought about why [he was] here, which is to stand in solidarity with [his] Palestinian siblings and comrades.”  

The speaker referenced the campus’ history of demonstrations, stating that “it’s really ironic that those people are now venerated and we are now villainized.” They closed by saying, “We are in a historic moment right now, and you have the chance to be a part of it.” It was announced that the group will be picketing until 7 pm. 

At 2 pm, students marched around the Encampment, chanting “Free free Palestine” and clapping. Protesters held signs reading “Jews for free Palestine,” “Columbia funds genocide,” and “Keep the faith.” Protesters were spotted carrying food and other supplies out of the Encampment while picketing continued around both Butler lawns. 

Meanwhile, around 20 to 30 faculty members wearing neon vests were dispersed along the boundaries of  the Encampment, most congregated in front of the main entrance. At around 1:41 pm, students demonstrated to faculty how to create a soft blockade. Faculty were instructed to link arms and to unlink arms and follow directions if the NYPD arrived. Tenured faculty were reportedly positioned in the front. The organizers noted that they did not want faculty to be arrested. At 2:08 pm, the soft blockade was formed. At 2:18 pm, people were allowed to exit the Encampment but barred from entering. Later, at 2:23 pm, people were allowed past the blockade and into the Encampment with the approval of an organizer stationed at the entrance. 

At 2:20, CUAD posted on their Instagram story a photo taken from inside the Encampment. The story read: “Inside the Encampment right now. We are not moving.” 

National Lawyers Guild representatives were spotted wearing neon green hats on the East side of College Walk. Their hats read “legal observer.”

Meanwhile, a protest in solidarity with the Gaza Solidarity Encampment began on 116th and Broadway outside of the Columbia gates. Protesters chanted “Viva viva Palestina” and held signs with statements such as “End all US aid in Israel” and “Stand in and defend all Columbia student encampment protestors.” At about 2:30 pm, the NYPD arrived with more barricades.

Around 2:35 pm, a group of counter-protesters began to picket on Low Steps.

Update made on Monday, April 29 at 1:55 pm: Columbia denies state of emergency

Columbia’s Office of Public Affairs contacted Bwog regarding allegations of a state of emergency report, citing it is “a fabrication and totally false.”

Update made on Monday, April 29 at 1:43 pm:

University Senate Update

In an email sent at 1:14 pm on Monday, the Chairs of the Senate Affairs Committee of the Columbia University Senate updated students about the Senate’s actions and guiding principles throughout the past week of negotiations between Encampment protesters and the University. The Chairs of the SAC affirmed that their “goal has been to bring the parties to the table and try to mediate a peaceful resolution to the encampment, ensuring good-faith negotiations on both sides.” However, they concluded that “in the end, no agreement was reached.” They stated that the University Senate is not involved in the further decision-making process that the University is undertaking in order to resolve the Encampment, and does not know what steps the University will take to address the protests. They concluded the email by emphasizing their “commitment to the well-being, rights, and protection of all Columbia students” and encouraging “empathy, learning, and sincere dialogue” between students.

Email sent to Columbia students from the Student Affairs Committee at 1:14 pm on Monday, April 29:

Dear Fellow Students,

We, the Chairs of the Students Affairs Committee, serve as your representatives on the University Senate’s Executive Committee. There has been a lot of misinformation, disinformation, and exploitation targeted at our community, leaving no room for nuance and obscuring the truth of what we are all going through. As you read this message, we ask everyone to consider what you do, and do not, know about this past week, and encourage all of us to continue forward with empathy and humility.

We do not claim to speak for all students, or even all student Senators, as the will of constituencies is never monolithic. As in any representative democracy, we listen to our constituents and act on what we learn but we also hold our own values, and lead with those. Where those two principles (the will of our constituents and our own values) converge, we must stand firm. When we sent our email about the arrests last Thursday, April 18th, we believe we were doing just that.

Students felt unheard by the University partly due to months of unfair subversion of process. These students then decided to set up an encampment on campus in protest. Evidently, this action could result in charges being brought under the Rules of University Conduct. However, the response of the University administration was unprecedented and disproportionate. The University called the NYPD onto campus to arrest those student protestors, ultimately resulting in over 100 arrests made. In doing so, the University subverted the process once again. This action by the University inflamed the situation into what we see today. Non-Columbia-affiliates of all stripes descended on our University, created chaos, and have tried to exploit this situation for their own gain.

Since the arrests and our message, there has been a real concern about fear, hate speech, harassment, and discrimination. In and around campus, we have witnessed some of these evils, including anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, and anti-Palestinian racism. We condemn these acts and believe that anyone who has engaged in these, or any other, forms of hate should be held accountable. If they are students or faculty, they must be reported and sanctioned. If they are non-Columbia-affiliates, we would hope that the University partners with appropriate authorities to hold them accountable.

In the University Senate, our goal has been to bring the parties to the table and try to mediate a peaceful resolution to the encampment, ensuring good-faith negotiations on both sides – and we have done just that. This is in keeping with our long-standing principles of shared governance. The process involved significant effort, deep empathy, and the utmost integrity, and was not without its challenges. While there have been concerns about the sincerity of the University in these talks, we believe that, now, all parties have made genuine efforts towards reaching a mutually agreeable solution.

Unfortunately, in the end, no agreement was reached. We understand that the University will take other routes in an attempt to resolve the issue. The University Senate is not involved in this decision-making and, while we do not know what these routes will be, we believe that we as members of the University Senate did everything within the framework of negotiations to find a resolution through discussion.

Finally, we want to reaffirm our commitment to the well-being, rights, and protection of all Columbia students. Where there are divides, we believe the way forward is through empathy, learning, and sincere dialogue. We encourage all members of our community to continue with these values in mind.

Sincerely,

Chairs, Student Affairs Committee

Columbia University Senate

Encampment general assembly

On Monday, April 29 at 12 pm, the Gaza Solidarity Encampment held an assembly to discuss future steps in response to the University’s distribution of notices to student protesters and the most recent email from Columbia President Minouche Shafik notifying students in the Encampment that they will face disciplinary action, including interim suspensions, if they choose to remain in the Encampment past 2 pm on Monday, April 29. 

A vote was held regarding whether the protesters would remain in the Encampment, despite potentially facing interim suspensions or further disciplinary action. Protesters voted unanimously to remain in the Encampment, following the vote with chants of “Free Palestine” and “Disclose, divest, we will not stop, we will not rest” by those in the Encampment and students gathered outside.  

Update made on Monday, April 29 at 11:36 am: Negotiations with Encampment have ended

In emails Monday morning, President Shafik and President Rosenbury announced that negotiations with Encampment leaders have ended. Shafik added that the University will not divest, explaining different offers the administration gave negotiators. Following the email sent by President Shafik, University officials distributed a notice stating that all protesters must evacuate West Butler Lawn by 2 pm and self-identify, or else they will face suspension. Read more here.

Encampment via Bwog Staff