Columbia University delivered ultimatums to student protesters on Monday, warning them of suspension if they fail to clear out of encampments, following the university president’s announcement that there would be no divestment from Israel—a demand sparking nationwide protests on college campuses.
Students occupying the encampment were given until 2 p.m. to vacate or face suspension pending further investigation, effectively barring them from completing the spring semester.
Despite the university’s directive, participants in the encampment, now in its second week, voted overwhelmingly to remain.
President Minouche Shafik, in her statement, appealed to protesters to disperse voluntarily, citing the encampment’s creation of an “unwelcoming environment for many of our Jewish students and faculty.” She also pointed out the contributions of “external actors” to a “hostile environment” around university gates and labeled the demonstration a “noisy distraction” for students. Additionally, Shafik mentioned the upcoming May 15 commencement, expressing a desire not to disrupt the graduation celebration for thousands of students and their families and friends.
Columbia became the focal point of protests supporting the Palestinian cause, with students calling for divestment from investments linked to weapons manufacturing and Israel, amid the backdrop of the Israel-Hamas conflict, which has claimed more than 34,000 lives in the Gaza Strip.
Last week, protests erupted on campuses nationwide, resulting in mass arrests and crackdowns.