In a statement issued yesterday evening, a group of faculty members, administrators and members of the university’s senate have been engaged in discussions with student organizers regarding the dismantling of an encampment on campus. The dialogue aims to address the reasons for dispersal and to establish guidelines for future university policies. The university acknowledged that both parties have their own demands and stated that rumors of police involvement were false.
Earlier in the week, Columbia University had set a deadline for protesters to dismantle the camp by midnight, followed by an extension of negotiations for an additional 48 hours. However, no agreement was reached and speculation about police intervention led to concerns about potential violence. The subsequent evacuation of the compound resulted in arrests, but Mayor Eric Adams confirmed that the process was peaceful with no injuries.
Following the incident, the university suspended students involved in organizing the protests and members of the banned SJP organization. Notably, one of the suspended students is Ilhan Omar’s daughter, known for her criticism of Israel. The events have sparked discussions and debates about activism on campus and how student-led demonstrations should be handled.
