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Local News


COLUMBIA EXTENDS DEADLINE FOR ACCORD WITH PRO-PALESTINIAN PROTESTERS

By Mahsa Saeidi, Ali Bauman, Brian Dakss

Updated on: April 24, 2024 / 5:40 AM EDT / CBS New York

 * 
 * 
 * 


Columbia University extends deadline for negotiations with pro-Palestinian
demonstrators

NEW YORK -- Columbia University appears to have extended the deadline for
pro-Palestinian protesters to remove their encampment from the university's main
lawn, as talks continued overnight between students and school administrators. 

Early Wednesday morning, NYPD officers in riot gear cleared out a group of about
100 protesters just outside campus. They were chanting, waving flags and holding
signs in solidarity with the students. At least one person was arrested. 



University President Minouche Shafik issued a midnight deadline for
demonstrators to reach an agreement about dispersing and dismantling their
encampment, but the university announced early Wednesday it was extending the
deadline for 48 hours.

In a letter emailed earlier to the school community, Shafik had said student
organizers were meeting with a group of faculty, administrators and University
Senators.

Shafik said, "Those talks are facing a deadline of midnight [Tuesday] to reach
agreement. 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."

The school president cited safety concerns, disruptions to campus life and a
tense "and at times hostile" environment for the school community.

Shafik also said her staff was working to identify and discipline any students
who have been discriminatory or harassing people.

But a group called Columbia Students for Justice in Palestine said in a news
release early Wednesday that they'd broken off the talks with school officials
because Columbia was "refusing to bargain in good faith" and was threatening to
ask for National Guard troops and NYPD officers. The group said it wouldn't
return to the table until the threat was rescinded.



"We refuse to concede to cowardly threats and blatant intimidation by university
administration. We will continue to peacefully protest," the group said.

Around midnight, students could be seen taking down and moving some tents that
had been erected on the lawn, but it wasn't immediately clear how many would
clear out.

The Columbia student newspaper, the Columbia Spectator, reported that at about
midnight, a demonstrator announced on campus that the school had extended the
negotiation deadline to 8 a.m. and that "we are not under any imminent threat at
least until 8 a.m." The paper said a spokesperson for the school declined to
comment to it about the deadline or the protest group's statement.

An NYPD spokesperson couldn't confirm or deny to the newspaper whether the
school had requested an NYPD presence on campus. And the paper reports that New
York Gov. Kathy Hochul said Tuesday she didn't plan at that time to deploy
National Guard troops. She is the one who would have to give those orders.

For its part, a university spokesperson said in a statement early Wednesday that
the school was "making important progress with representatives of the student
encampment on the West lawn," adding that the protestors "have committed to
dismantling and removing a significant number of tents" and said they would
"ensure that those not affiliated with Columbia will leave. Only Columbia
University students will be participating in the protest."



The spokesperson also said the "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," the school said.


DEMONSTRATORS GATHER OUTSIDE PRESIDENT SHAFIK'S HOME

Pro-Palestinian demonstrators say they want Columbia University to cut financial
ties with Israel.

Some protesters who attend Barnard College held a news conference Tuesday in
front of Shafik's home to drive home the point.

"I speak during Passover to talk about bravery of our people," a student named
Soph said. "When I was marched out of encampment in zip ties, I didn't flinch. I
can't remain complacent."



Three of the students who were in attendance are Jewish. They said they've been
suspended indefinitely. Columbia has not released any information on
disciplinary action.

"Our university profits off this. We want stop until they divest," Sarah Borus
added. "I've never been more proud to be Jewish than when I was arrested and
taken off campus."

Meanwhile, two members of the encampment at Columbia said the group is in talks
with the university, and wouldn't back down until its demands are met.

"We stand in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza who are facing genocide," one
said.


STUDENTS DESCRIBE "DISHEARTENING" SITUATION ON COLUMBIA CAMPUS

Chopper 2 flew over Columbia's South Lawn early Tuesday morning, where
pro-Palestinian demonstrators camped out in tents overnight. The demonstration
started last Wednesday and was in its seventh day.



Columbia switched to remote learning Monday to deescalate tensions on campus,
as Jewish students have reported feeling unsafe, especially during the Passover
holiday.

School officials say all classes on the Morningside campus will offer a hybrid
option for the rest of the semester, which ends Monday.

"Safety is our highest priority as we strive to support our students' learning
and all the required academic operations," the Office of the Provost posted
online. "It's vital that teaching and learning continue during this time."

Campus access has been restricted, and officers remain stationed outside several
entrances. Students who opted to attend in-person Tuesday said the situation is
making it difficult to focus on their upcoming exams.

"It is pretty disheartening to see all this on campus, I will say. I think a lot
of people are misguided. And at the same time, I'm kind of confused because, I
mean, being here at Columbia, I mean I have so much work and I know a lot of
these students do, as well," junior Michael D'Agostino said. "I have a part-time
job, I wouldn't be able to be in this long, not making money and keeping up with
my studies."



"It's obviously devastating to see so many students getting hurt and being
arrested," sophomore Rony Yin added.

Others are feeling the impact the protests have had beyond campus.

"They have inspired a lot of other people to take more action or perhaps change
actions they've been taking to draw more attention to the situation that's
happening in Palestine, in Gaza," said Carla Reyes, a non-student protester.

Some protesters have joined the calls for Shafik to resign, while others worry
whoever replaces her would take more aggressive action. In her latest statement
to students and staff, the president wrote, "Let's sit down and talk and argue
and find ways to compromise on solutions."

"I understand how important this is. Young people in particular are energized by
their beliefs, but we have to have respectful discourse. This has gone too far,"
Gov. Kathy Hochul said.



Mayor Eric Adams is applauding the NYPD for its response and says students who
protest peacefully are not the problem.

"We can't have outside agitators come in and be destructive to our city," he
said.

Former mayor Rudy Giuliani drove by Columbia on Tuesday, putting in his two
cents to condemn the demonstrators.

"I feel that we have declined to a state of absurdity when we have these
ignorant people who are supporting killers," Giuliani said.


"I WISH THERE WAS AN EASY ANSWER"  

The semester at Columbia, which many have described as heartbreaking, will come
to an end on Monday.



"It's obviously devastating to see so many students getting hurt and being
arrested," sophomore Ronny Yin said.

"I'm kind of confused because, I mean being here at Columbia, I mean I have so
much work," junior Michel D'Agostino said.

"I wish there was an easy answer and I feel like it's so complicated and, to be
honest, I feel heartbroken about all of it," said Julia Dillon, who works
nearby.

As tensions continue to boil over, freshman Daniella Davis says she regrets
staying on campus this week during Passover.

"There's no one left on our floor. There are six of us left, which is a weird
feeling, and it's supposed to be a more joyous time around Pesach, and we're all
celebrating together, but that hasn't really been the case," she said.



"I was supposed to be in Israel on Oct. 10, performing a show, so my whole life
got sidetracked," Israeli-American rapper Rami Even-Esh said.

Even-Esh is not a student at Columbia, but he said he has been going there for
month to document the protests.

When asked what the biggest misunderstanding is right now, Even-Esh said, "Two
things could be true at one time. Like, I'm very pro-Israeli, or Israeli, and I
also have a lot of sympathy for Palestinian people. I have friends who lost a
lot of family in Gaza."

Columbia University has one of the most esteemed journalism schools in the
country. CBS New York's Ali Bauman spoke to student journalists at the school
newspaper, Columbia Spectator, about attending classes while covering this
ongoing situation.

"I think it's been an intense, intense time to be a student on this campus, to
watch the nation's leaders comment on what's going on as we're living and going
to classes in our campus, said Esha Karam, managing editor of the Columbia
Spectator. "Who knows what's gonna come next in terms of, as finals approach and
also as commencement approaches. The university is starting to set up
commencement stands and stuff on the opposing lawn where protests originally set
up tents, and soon we'll see what the next steps are in terms of preparing for
those activities as well."



Commencement is scheduled for May 15.

CBS New York has learned that Wednesday, House Speaker Mike Johnson is expected
to visit Columbia University to meet with Jewish students and hold a press
conference addressing antisemitism on college campuses.  


MORE FROM CBS NEWS

Columbia "making important progress" with pro-Palestinian protesters
Columbia switches to remote learning, as protests enter 6th day
Who is Columbia University President Dr. Minouche Shafik?
Columbia University offering remote classes for rest of semester
A look back at protests at Columbia University
   In:
 * Israel
 * Columbia University
 * Morningside Heights
 * Palestinians

Read More

First published on April 23, 2024 / 6:20 PM EDT

© 2024 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Read more


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