Campus Updates

This morning, President Shafik sent a message to the Columbia community about last night’s decision to ask the NYPD to enter campus.  

“… Because my first responsibility is safety, with the support of the University’s Trustees, I made the decision to ask the New York City Police Department to intervene to end the occupation of Hamilton Hall and dismantle the main encampment along with a new, smaller encampment. These actions were completed Tuesday night, and I thank the NYPD for their incredible professionalism and support.  …

It is going to take time to heal, but I know we can do that together. I hope that we can use the weeks ahead to restore calm, allow students to complete their academic work, and honor their achievements at Commencement. We also must continue with urgency our ongoing dialogue on the important issues that have been raised in recent months, especially the balance between free speech and discrimination and the role of a university in contributing to better outcomes in the Middle East. Both are topics where I hope Columbia can lead the way in new thinking that will make us the epicenter, not just of protests, but of solutions to the world’s problems.”

Please read the full message.

From a university spokesman:

A little after 9 p.m. this evening, the NYPD arrived on campus at the University’s request. This decision was made to restore safety and order to our community.

We regret that protesters have chosen to escalate the situation through their actions. After the University learned overnight that Hamilton Hall had been occupied, vandalized, and blockaded, we were left with no choice. Columbia public safety personnel were forced out of the building, and a member of our facilities team was threatened. We will not risk the safety of our community or the potential for further escalation. 

The leadership team, including the Board of Trustees, met throughout the night and into the early morning, consulting with security experts and law enforcement to determine the best plan to protect our students and the entire Columbia community. We made the decision, early in the morning, that this was a law enforcement matter, and that the NYPD were best positioned to determine and execute an appropriate response.  

We believe that the group that broke into and occupied the building is led by individuals who are not affiliated with the University. Sadly, this dangerous decision followed more than a week of what had been productive discussions with representatives of the West Lawn encampment.  

We severely curtailed the number of people on Morningside campus starting Tuesday morning. Over the course of the day, we updated our community on access to campus buildings, and will continue to do so through the next few days. 

The decision to reach out to the NYPD was in response to the actions of the protesters, not the cause they are championing. We have made it clear that the life of campus cannot be endlessly interrupted by protesters who violate the rules and the law. 

Early Tuesday, protesters chose to escalate to an alarming and untenable situation—including by vandalizing property, breaking doors and windows, blockading entrances, and forcing our facilities and public safety workers out—and we are responding appropriately as we have long made clear we would. The safety of our community, especially our students, remains our top priority.

Please also see President Shafik’s letter to the NYPD Deputy Commissioner here.

A press briefing by Ben Chang, vice president of communications.

To members of the media: We are fielding dozens of questions every hour from you and your colleagues/competitors. One of the driving reasons that we are conducting these briefings is to capture as much information as possible and share it in the most efficient way—either through this format or the emails you have been receiving. We will do our best to field individual inquiries throughout the day but adding this vehicle is a better way to serve you and the community.

We know many members of the press are trying to gain access to Columbia's Morningside campus. Because of serious public safety concerns, we had to limit access this afternoon.

We appreciate everyone’s forbearance as we do our best under changing circumstances to facilitate limited media access in the face of serious safety and security constraints.

Update

As we have said repeatedly—and you are going to keep hearing me underscore—our top priority is restoring safety and order on our campus. That priority has been driving our efforts since day one—we have a responsibility to our entire campus community.

We regret that protesters have chosen to escalate the situation through their actions.

This is about responding to the actions of the protesters, not their cause.

We made it very clear yesterday that the work of the University cannot be endlessly interrupted by protesters who violate the rules. Continuing to do so will be met with clear consequences.

Protesters have chosen to escalate to an untenable situation—vandalizing property, breaking doors and windows, and blockading entrances—and we are following through with the consequences we outlined yesterday.

Taking a moment to provide a sense of scale:

• Columbia University has a total student population of almost 37,000.
  • Approximately 15,000 are graduating this spring (next month!).
• Those in the encampments on the lawns and who occupying Hamilton Hall number in the dozens.

President Shafik reaffirmed the core principles that have underpinned our approach throughout these events:

• First, the physical safety of our community on campus.
• Second, academic freedom and the right of members of our community to speak their minds.
• Third, everyone’s rights: Just as everyone has the right to express their views, they must also respect rights of others to do the same and to teach, study, and learn. Protests must comply with time, place, and manner restrictions.
• Fourth, our values—as well as our duties under civil rights laws—compel us to condemn hate and to protect every member of our community from harassment and discrimination. Antisemitic language and actions are unacceptable and calls for violence are simply abhorrent.

Since last Wednesday, a small group of academic leaders worked in constructive dialogue with student organizers to find a path to dismantle the encampment and adhere to University policies, but we were unable to come to an agreement. University representatives engaged in a good faith dialogue with the organizers and maintained that dialogue as long as possible—a reflection of our values as a community and an effort to de-escalate. 

On Hamilton Hall: Students occupying the building face expulsion.

On the encampment: Protesters were informed that their participation in the encampment violated numerous University policies. We gave everyone at the encampment the opportunity to leave peacefully. By committing to abide by University policies, they would be allowed to complete the semester.

Students who did not commit to the terms we offered are suspended. Those students will be restricted from all academic and recreational spaces and may only access their individual residence. Seniors will be ineligible to graduate.

As we said yesterday, disruptions on campus have created a threatening environment for many of our Jewish students and faculty and a noisy distraction that interferes with teaching, learning, and preparing for final exams, and contributes to a hostile environment in violation of Title VI.

We are exploring options to restore safety and order to our campus.

We also continue to communicate with our campus community directly—providing updates given the changing situation on campus for students, staff, and faculty in light of the disruption and safety concerns resulting from the actions of the protesters and those occupying the building. Those updates include resources on dining, libraries, labs, and other important campus functions currently being disrupted.

We know many members of the press are trying to gain access to Columbia's Morningside campus. Because of serious public safety concerns, we had to limit access this afternoon. 

We appreciate everyone’s forbearance as we do our best under changing circumstances to facilitate limited media access in the face of serious safety and security constraints. For the most recent information and briefing reports, please continue to check Campus Updates. 

From University Spokesperson Ben Chang:

We regret that protesters have chosen to escalate the situation through their actions. Our top priority is restoring safety and order on our campus. 

We made it very clear yesterday that the work of the University cannot be endlessly interrupted by protesters who violate the rules. Continuing to do so will be met with clear consequences. Protesters have chosen to escalate to an untenable situation—vandalizing property, breaking doors and windows, and blockading entrances—and we are following through with the consequences we outlined yesterday.

Students occupying the building face expulsion.

Protesters were informed that their participation in the encampment violated numerous University policies. We gave everyone at the encampment the opportunity to leave peacefully. By committing to abide by University policies, they would be allowed to complete the semester. 

Students who did not commit to the terms we offered are now being suspended. Those students will be restricted from all academic and recreational spaces and may only access their individual residence. Seniors will be ineligible to graduate.

This is about responding to the actions of the protesters, not their cause.

As we said yesterday, disruptions on campus have created a threatening environment for many of our Jewish students and faculty and a noisy distraction that interferes with teaching, learning, and preparing for final exams, and contributes to a hostile environment in violation of Title VI. 

The safety of our community remains our top priority. 

Media access to campus is suspended. Campus is accessible only to CUID-holders and essential personnel as a safety measure and that includes media.

From Ben Chang, University spokesperson:

Early this morning, a group of protesters occupied Hamilton Hall on the Morningside campus of Columbia University.

The safety of every single member of this community is paramount.

The first step we have taken is to alert our campus community -- in light of the protest activity, we have asked members of the University community who can avoid coming to the Morningside campus to do so; essential personnel should report to work according to university policy. Access to campus has been limited to students residing in residential buildings on campus and employees who provide essential services to campus buildings, labs, and residential student life.

We will continue to update you with more information as soon as we can.

A press briefing by Ben Chang, vice president of Communications at Columbia University.

This morning, President Shafik released a statement for the University community on the next phase of our efforts to ensure safety and order on our campus. In this message, President Shafik reaffirmed our core principles that have underpinned our approach throughout these events:

• First, the physical safety of our community on campus.
• Second, academic freedom and the right of members of our community to speak their minds.
• Third, everyone’s rights: Just as everyone has the right to express their views, they must also respect rights of others to do the same and to teach, study, and learn. Protests must comply with time, place, and manner restrictions.
• Fourth, our values—as well as our duties under civil rights laws—compel us to condemn hate and to protect every member of our community from harassment and discrimination. Antisemitic language and actions are unacceptable and calls for violence are simply abhorrent.

Since Wednesday, a small group of academic leaders worked in constructive dialogue with student organizers to find a path to dismantle the encampment and adhere to University policies, but we were unable to come to an agreement.

We are committed to making Columbia safe for everyone, and we want members of our Jewish community to feel safe, welcome, and valued. The encampment has created an unwelcoming environment for many of our Jewish students and faculty and a noisy distraction that interferes with the teaching, learning, and preparing for final exams of our professors and students. External actors have contributed to creating a hostile environment in violation of Title VI.

As we prepare for a commencement to honor our students’ achievements, we continue urge the protesters to remove the encampment and voluntarily disperse so as to not deprive their fellow students of this momentous occasion.

For all of those reasons, we issued notices this morning to all at the encampment that they will be suspended if they do not leave by 2 p.m. Protesters were informed that their participation in the encampment violates numerous University policies.

Students who agreed to leave and sign a form committing to abide by University policies will be allowed to complete the semester. Students who do not will be placed on suspension, ineligible to complete the semester or graduate, and will be restricted from all academic, residential, and recreational spaces.

We have begun suspending students as part of this next phase of our efforts to ensure safety on our campus. Once disciplinary action is initiated, adjudication is handled by several different units within the University based on the nature of the offense.

Let me pause here and add some important context as there has been confusion or misunderstanding about the following:

• The range of encampment violations is such that two separate units hold jurisdiction, depending on the violation:
  • Those are the University Senate and the Office of University Life/Student Conduct. Those offices are charged with holding hearings and determining punishment.
  • Decisions made by the Office of University Life can be appealed to the Dean of the student’s school.
  • Decisions made by the Senate can be appealed to a panel of Deans, and ultimately the University’s President.
  • For those unfamiliar: The Columbia University Senate is a University-wide policy-making body representing faculty, researchers, students, administration, administrative staff, librarians, and alumni. The Senate makes policy on a range of issues that affect the entire University. 
• As you can see, there are several parties within the University who bear responsibility for the disciplinary process.

In the notice to the encampment, we made another direct request to the student protesters: We urge you to remove the encampment so that we do not deprive your fellow students—more than 15,000 graduating this spring—their families, and friends of this momentous occasion.

Let me underscore: We know many of you have been reporting on the range of reactions on campus—reactions which are not surprising or unexpected. The process I described above continues to play out.

University representatives engaged in good faith in dialogue with the organizers and maintained that dialogue as long as possible because this reflected our values as a community and an effort to deescalate. We were hopeful.  And we were disappointed when the student protesters could not reach consensus on the issues under discussion.

There have been a wide range of University representatives involved in this effort.  As an example, I also want to share the following: I understand the chairs of the University Senate Student Affairs Committee—the representatives of the committee to the Senate executive committee—issued a statement to the committee earlier this afternoon.

In noting no agreement was reached, the chairs said “they did everything within the framework of negotiations to find a resolution through discussion” and that “all parties”—including the administration—engaged in good faith negotiations and “made genuine efforts towards reaching a mutually agreeable solution.”

We will continue to update you with new developments.

Meetings

No specific meeting readouts other than to say the president and senior University leaders continue to remain in close contact with city, state, and other officials.

Campus Operations

We are aware there was a protest earlier this afternoon on Broadway, outside the campus gates. We continue to have a range of additional safety resources in place for our community.

• At the Morningside campus, CUID-only access remains in place until circumstances allow for broader access.
• We have windows for media access from 2 to 4 p.m. every day.
• On areas outside of campus, outside Columbia’s gates, as noted above:
  • We remain in constant contact with NYPD and refer you to them for questions on street closures, crowd control measures, arrests, investigations, and other police matters.

This morning, President Minouche Shafik released a statement:

“A small group of academic leaders has been in constructive dialogue with student organizers to find a path that would result in the dismantling of the encampment and adherence to University policies going forward.

Regretfully, we were not able to come to an agreement.”

Please read the full statement.

We will not be holding a virtual press briefing today—thanks for your forbearance. Sending you this update from Ben Chang, Columbia University spokesperson:

Today was a quiet day on campus. Dialogue between University officials and student organizers is ongoing. There is no truth to claims of an impending lockdown or evictions on campus.

We will stay in touch about future updates and briefings.

A press briefing by Ben Chang, vice president of Communications at Columbia University.

Campus Safety and Security

As many of you know, the University was made aware of multiple protest and counterprotest activities outside the campus gates last night. Columbia Chief Operating Officer Cas Holloway sent a message to the campus community last night regarding additional safety and security measures the University has in place, from additional patrols of campus to more personnel for our campus escort service.

I want to express on behalf of the University and our community immense gratitude to the New York Police Department. They did a great job keeping everyone safe.

Switching Gears

President Shafik continues to speak directly to elected and government officials. And speaking of elected officials, we continue to facilitate visits. If an elected official requests to visit campus, we facilitate it. We have accommodated many visits from elected officials in recent days.

Several of you have noted a recent vote by the University Senate:

The administration and Senate share the same goal of restoring calm to campus so everyone can pursue their educational activities. We are committed to an ongoing dialogue and appreciate the Senate’s constructive engagement in finding a pathway forward.

On the ongoing discussions between the University and the student protestors:

An update was sent overnight to the community: The talks have shown progress and are continuing as planned.

For several days, a small group of faculty, administrators, and University Senators have been in dialogue with student organizers to discuss the basis for dismantling the encampment, dispersing, and following University policies going forward. We have our demands; they have theirs. A formal process is underway and continues.

Several of you have had questions about a student video that is extremely alarming and upsetting:

Calls of violence and statements targeted at individuals based on their religious, ethnic, or national identity are unacceptable and violate university policy.

When there are violations of student conduct policies, they are reviewed and disciplinary measures are applied.

We will have more information later this evening.

Campus Operations

• At the Morningside campus, CUID-only access remains in place until circumstances allow for broader access.
• We have windows for media access from 2 to 4 p.m. every day.
• On areas outside of campus, outside Columbia’s gates, as noted above:
  • We remain in constant contact with NYPD, in particular with the leadership of the 26^th precinct, whom we are in touch with daily.
  • Again, we express our appreciation for all the work of the NYPD.  We refer you to the NYPD for questions on street closures, crowd control measures, arrests, investigations, and other police matters.

We are providing an update on the ongoing discussions between the University and the student protestors:

The talks have shown progress and are continuing as planned.

For several days, a small group of faculty, administrators, and University Senators have been in dialogue with student organizers to discuss the basis for dismantling the encampment, dispersing, and following University policies going forward. We have our demands; they have theirs. A formal process is underway and continues.

There is a rumor that the NYPD has been invited to campus this evening. This rumor is false.

A press briefing by Ben Chang, vice president of Communications at Columbia University.

Let me start with the following:

President Shafik spoke with Mayor Eric Adams earlier today. His office convened university presidents to discuss ongoing campus safety issues, and we appreciate his partnership.

Speaking of elected officials, we continue to facilitate visits. If an elected official requests to visit campus, we facilitate it. We have accommodated many visits from elected officials in recent days.

Safety and Security 

Columbia Chief Operating Officer Cas Holloway just sent a message to the campus community:

• The University was made aware of multiple, potentially significant protest and counterprotest activities occurring this evening outside the campus gates. In anticipation of these protests, following is an update of our safety measures and precautions you should take for this evening.
• Protest activity is expected along Amsterdam Avenue and Broadway starting at approximately 6 p.m. and continuing for several hours. The New York Police Department is aware of the protests and is adding personnel to maintain safety consistent with the anticipated conditions.
• Out of an abundance of caution, please avoid the area this evening if that is possible for you to do. Additional safety and security measures the University has in place include:
  • Increased patrol strength to provide additional patrols of campus, more personnel for our campus escort service, and more staff at campus access points.
  • Safety escorts available to members of the Columbia community at any time of day.
  • Enhanced security along the campus perimeter.
• Campus remains restricted to CUID holders only with limited gate access. Columbia Public Safety is in close communication with the NYPD should there be any new developments.
• The safety and security of our Columbia community and Morningside neighbors are paramount.

On the ongoing discussions between the University and the student protestors:

• For several days, a small group of faculty, administrators, and University Senators have been in dialogue with student organizers to discuss the basis for dismantling the encampment, dispersing, and following University policies going forward.
• We have our demands; they have theirs.
• A formal process is underway and continues.
• As President Shafik has said, we very much hope these discussions are successful. If they are not, we will have to consider options for restoring calm to campus.

Campus Operations

• At the Morningside campus, CUID-only access remains in place until circumstances allow for broader access.
• We have windows for media access from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. every day.
• On areas outside of campus, outside Columbia’s gates, as noted above:
  • We remain in constant contact with NYPD, in particular with the leadership of the 26^th precinct, whom we are in touch with daily.
  • We continue to express our appreciation for all the work of the NYPD. We refer you to the NYPD for questions on street closures, crowd control measures, arrests, investigations, and other police matters.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, Representative Virginia Foxx, who chairs the House Education and the Workforce Committee, and fellow Congressional members held a press conference on the steps of Low Library. President Shafik sat down with them just before their media event. She shares the representatives’ focus on and commitment to the safety and security of the campus community and she appreciates help from all those who offer it. “As we are seeing on campuses from California to Texas, from Minnesota to Massachusetts, fellow universities are confronting immense, and similar challenges,” said Ben Chang, vice president of communications.

Overnight, there were two updates sent to the campus community. First, a message from President Shafik focusing on a number of themes, including:

• “The encampment raises serious safety concerns, disrupts campus life, and has created a tense and at times hostile environment for many members of our community.”
• “For several days, a small group of faculty, administrators, and University Senators have been in dialogue with student organizers to discuss the basis for dismantling the encampment, dispersing, and following university policies going forward.”
• “I very much hope these discussions are successful. If they are not, we will have to consider alternative options for clearing the West Lawn and restoring calm to campus so that students can complete the term and graduate. I am deeply sensitive to the fact that graduating seniors spent their first year attending Columbia remotely. We all very much want these students to celebrate their well-deserved graduation with family and friends.”
• “I also want to be clear that we will not tolerate intimidating, harassing, or discriminatory behavior. We are working to identify protestors who violated our policies against discrimination and harassment, and they will be put through appropriate disciplinary processes. The right to protest is essential and protected at Columbia, but harassment and discrimination is antithetical to our values and an affront to our commitment to be a community of mutual respect and kindness.”
• “I am grateful for the support of City and State officials in managing this crisis, which has drawn a large volume of outside protestors around our perimeter, exacerbating security concerns and producing much of the incendiary language that is causing deep distress for many in our community.”

Later at 4 a.m. ET this morning, an update that Columbia University is making important progress with representatives of the student encampment on the West Lawn was sent out to the community:

• Student protestors have committed to dismantling and removing a significant number of tents.
• Student protesters will ensure that those not affiliated with Columbia will leave. Only Columbia University students will be participating in the protest.
• Student protestors in the encampment will comply with all requirements of the Fire Department of New York (FDNY) with respect to activities and safety.
• Student protestors have taken steps to make the encampment welcome to all and have prohibited discriminatory or harassing language.

In light of this constructive dialogue, the University will continue conversations for the next 48 hours.

Many reporters have asked about a baseless assertion that the University threatened to bring in the National Guard: That is untrue and an unsubstantiated claim. “Our goal is to restore order—if we can get there through dialogue, we will,” Chang said.

Campus Operations

• At the Morningside campus, CUID-only access remains in place until circumstances allow for broader access.
• The University has windows for media access from 2 to 4 p.m. every day.

Latest Announcements

Besides President Shafik’s message last night and the update early this morning about important progress with representatives of the student encampment on the West Lawn, here are the latest announcements:

• Trustees Express Support for President Shafik
• Provost Angela Olinto on resources and guidelines for final exams.

Safety and Security

There have been acts of vandalism on campus since the protests began, including reports of harassment and discrimination. When the University mentions “safety,” it is not just about the absence of violence, it is about this range of actions and concerns. The current protest is in violation of University rules, and Columbia is taking steps to resolve it. Many people have asked about the status of student suspensions:

• For Columbia, the University is not providing specific figures as the disciplinary process continues.
• For students from Barnard College, the University refers you to Barnard for comment on Barnard student discipline.

On areas outside of campus, outside Columbia’s gates:

• The University remains in constant contact with the New York Police Department (NYPD), in particular with the leadership of the 26^th precinct, whom the administration is in touch with daily.
• The University continues to express appreciation for all the work of the NYPD. Contact the NYPD for questions on street closures, crowd control measures, arrests, investigations, and other police matters.

Columbia University is making important progress with representatives of the student encampment on the West Lawn:

• Student protestors have committed to dismantling and removing a significant number of tents.
• Student protesters will ensure that those not affiliated with Columbia will leave. Only Columbia University students will be participating in the protest.
• Student protestors in the encampment will comply with all requirements of the Fire Department of New York (FDNY) with respect to activities and safety.
• Student protestors have taken steps to make the encampment welcome to all and have prohibited discriminatory or harassing language.

In light of this constructive dialogue, the University will continue conversations for the next 48 hours. (Please note that this is an update from President Shafik's message from last night.)

As President Minouche Shafik has said, the safety of the Columbia community is the University’s number one priority. That includes the safety of the encampment, which continues to grow. The University is watching this closely and is concerned about the presence of non-affiliates—people who are not members of the Columbia community—in the encampment who should not be on campus.

Columbia students have the right to protest, but they are not allowed to disrupt campus life or harass and intimidate fellow students and members of the community. The University is acting on the concerns of its Jewish students and is providing additional support and resources to ensure that the community remains safe. 

The University is working hard to resolve the situation on campus, which includes ongoing discussions with local, city, and state officials. University officials met with representatives of the student protestors until 2 a.m. this morning. That work continues in good faith. 

President Shafik is focused on de-escalating the rancor on Columbia’s campus. She is working across campus with members of the faculty, administration, and Board of Trustees, and with state, city, and community leaders, and appreciates their support.

Campus Operations

• At the Morningside campus, CUID-only access remains in place until circumstances allow for broader access.
• The Office of Public Affairs has windows for media access from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. every day. Email the office ([email protected]) to request access. 

Latest Announcements

• Please read President Shafik’s message on April 22 (sent at 1:12 a.m. ET).
• Please read Provost Angela Olinto’s message of April 22 (sent at 9:29 p.m. ET) on hybrid class options.
• Please read Chief Operating Officer Cas Holloway’s message of April 21 on enhanced safety measures at the Morningside campus.

Safety and Security

There have been acts of vandalism on campus since the protests began, reports of harassment and discrimination. When the University mentions “safety,” it is not just about the absence of violence, it is about this range of actions and concerns. The current protest is in violation of University rules, full stop, so steps are being taken to resolve it.

Many people have asked about the status of student suspensions:

• For Columbia, the University is not providing specific figures as the disciplinary process continues.
• For students from Barnard College, the University refers you to Barnard for comment on Barnard student discipline.

On areas outside of campus, outside Columbia’s gates:

• The University remains in constant contact with the New York Police Department (NYPD), in particular with the leadership of the 26^th precinct, whom the administration is in touch with daily.
• The University continues to express appreciation for all the work of the NYPD. Contact the NYPD for questions on street closures, crowd control measures, arrests, investigations, and other police matters.

Other Developments

• As mentioned earlier, President Shafik is working with state, city, and community leaders, and appreciates their support.
• Yesterday, President Shafik joined Governor Kathy Hochul for a meeting with students and staff at the Kraft Center for Jewish Student Life.
• President Shafik spoke with Mayor Eric Adams today and will stay in regular, direct contact with the Mayor and his senior team going forward.
• Additionally, President Shafik spoke today with several members of Congress from the New York delegation, updating them on the situation on campus and responding to their questions. 
• Internally, President Shafik’s chief of staff met with the Task Force on Antisemitism.
• Finally, Columbia staff have facilitated access for numerous government officials at the local, state, and federal level who have visited campus over the last few days.