The NYPD held a briefing about their response to the ongoing Columbia University demonstrations on 116th and Broadway.

As the Gaza Solidarity Encampment enters day six, ongoing protests, demonstrations, and responses from officials and beyond continue taking place.

In a statement posted to the Columbia website and sent to students at 1:14 am, President Minouche Shafik announced that all Columbia classes will be virtual on Monday, April 22.

On Thursday, April 18, President Shafik authorized NYPD officers onto campus to arrest student demonstrators. Bwog interviewed students and NYPD officers on campus surrounding their experiences on campus.

Various city officials and University professors have released press statements regarding student arrests at press conferences on April 18 and April 19.

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!