After the Gaza Solidarity Encampment on East Butler Lawn survived Wednesday night, Minouche Shafik authorized the NYPD to arrest demonstrators Thursday afternoon. As a result, students have begun protesting, occupying West Butler Lawn. This is a developing story.

On April 17, Columbia President Minouche Shafik, along with two other board trustees and a Task Force on Antisemitism co-chair, testified before Congress to address allegations of antisemitism on campus.

At 4 am on Wednesday, April 17, Columbia students constructed a “Gaza Solidarity Encampment” in protest of the University’s response to pro-Palestinian students. Protests began at 10 am on Wednesday and continued through Thursday, overlapping with the time of Minouche Shafik’s testimony before Congress regarding antisemitism at Columbia. 

On Monday, April 15, Barnard President Laura Rosenbury announced that Rebecca L. Walkowitz, Dean of Humanities at Rutgers University, will serve as the next Barnard Provost and Dean of the Faculty starting on June 1.

On Monday, April 15, Columbia Engineering Dean Shih-Fu Chang announced Professor of Biomedical Engineering Barclay Morrison as the new Vice Dean of Academic Programs.

Columbia has announced that it will recognize five honorary degree recipients at the two ceremonies for Commencement on May 15.

On April 3, Columbia stated it will begin construction on a state-of-the-art medical research building that will be New York City’s first all-electric university research building.

On Wednesday, April 3, six Columbia students were reportedly suspended and evicted from student housing as a result of an investigation into a Palestinian Solidarity Month event, according to Columbia Students for Justice in Palestine. According to the Columbia Daily Spectator, two of these suspensions were lifted on Thursday. 

On Thursday, Columbia University Apartheid Divest (CUAD) and Student Workers of Columbia (SWC) gathered in protest at the Sundial to bring attention to the recent siege of Al-Shifa Hospital and to show solidarity with the people of Gaza.

Congratulations to the 62 seniors who will be inducted in the Phi Beta Kappa Society this spring! 

Barnard College will be extending the deadline for declaring a class P/D/F as well as the ability to withdraw from a class for the Spring 2024 semester.

On Tuesday evening, Barnard SGA posted a petition written by former Nightline staff members alleging discriminatory incidents in the workplace. SGA posted their own statement alongside the petition denouncing the alleged events. Nightline has responded to the allegations.

On March 28, Columbia College and the Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Sciences released regular decision admissions results for the Class of 2028. Congratulations to all admitted students!

Columbia’s Roger Lehecka Double Discovery Center has received funding to begin Project Start Right, a mentorship program for BIPOC first-generation, low-income college students from Upper Manhattan.

On March 27, Barnard released Regular Decision admissions decisions for the Class of 2028, accepting 7% of applicants. Congratulations to everyone admitted!