The University’s Office of Institutional Equity and the Office of Rules Administration have initiated investigations into incidents that took place today and over the weekend that involve potential violations of the University’s Student Anti-Discrimination and Discriminatory Harassment Policies and University Rules. The University takes these incidents seriously, and the individuals involved are being notified that the University will immediately pursue its process for disciplinary action regarding their conduct.
These individuals are being informed that further actions designed to intimidate or harass specific groups of students will not be tolerated and will result in immediate action, including interim measures ranging from campus access restrictions to interim suspensions. Actions that target community members for harassment based on identity are a violation of our policies.
Our community must be guided by values and norms that respect the rights of all our students. Columbia is committed to creating and sustaining a teaching, learning, and working environment where everyone feels welcome and safe. We deeply value and respect the right of our community to free expression. However, when that right to free expression devolves into actions that target students or other community members for intimidation and harassment, they are not acceptable under University policies.
