Columbia University president Minouche Shafik sparked controversy over her response to the protests that have rocked the campus over the past weeks. As mass demonstrations engulfed the school campus, Shafik called the New York Police Department to calm the students.
Unfortunately, the move led to the mass arrests of student protesters, including Rep. Ilhan Omar’s daughter. After the NYPD stepped in, they forcibly removed protesters from campus grounds and Hamilton Hall, where protesters occupied to send their message home.
The mass arrests, which saw hundreds of protesters arrested, have sparked outrage across social media. Many are criticizing Columbia University’s president, blasting her for involving the use of force on peaceful protesters. However, Shafik, in response to the criticisms, has defended the move.
In a statement on Wednesday, May 1, 2024, Shafik said the student protesters’ actions “pushed the University to the brink.” Furthermore, the University president said the protest encampments created safety risks for the University community.
ALSO READ: Rep. Ilhan Omar’s Daughter Arrested at Pro-Palestinian Protest at Columbia University
“I’m sorry we reached this point,” Shafik said, apologizing for her extreme measures. However, she doubled down on her stance that the protesters made students feel unsafe on campus. In addition, Shafik said the students engaged in an “act of destruction,” pointing to the students occupying Hamilton Hall.
Responding to critics who said she could have exhausted other means before involving the NYPD, Shafik said the University had been “patient.” She said the school management tolerated the demonstrations despite ongoing negotiations with the students.
The University President added that she hoped they would restore calm as the school continues to dialogue. Notably, the University of Columbia is not the only campus to have witnessed mass protests in support of Palestinians in the US. According to reports, the tension is increasing in several other universities nationwide.
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Students protesting against the genocide toll in Gaza amid the Israel-Gaza war have set up encampments on nearly 100 campuses nationwide. However, in one voice, the students are demanding that their institutions sever ties with Israel and companies connected to the country’s operation in Gaza.
As the campus protests grew more intense across campuses and more arrests were made in other campuses, the White House issued a statement. On Thursday, May 2, President Joe Biden said, “Dissent is essential for democracy, but dissent must never lead to disorder.”
The Israel-Hamas war, which began on October 7, 2023, has caused a significant shift in academic institutions across the US and other areas. First, the pro-Palestinian protests started from Ivy League universities, including Harvard, MIT, and UPenn.
ALSO READ: NYC Police Arrest Over 300 Pro-Palestinian Protesters for Blocking Traffic
That led to the December 5, 2023, congressional hearing of a US House Committee on Antisemitism on college campuses with the Ivy League presidents. The backlash from the presidents’ responses to Rep. Elise Stefanik’s questions saw then-UPenn president Liz Magill resign almost immediately.
While Sally Kornbluth maintains her position at MIT, former Harvard president Claudine Gay eventually stepped down. Gay faced weeks of criticism over her campus’ response to antisemitism and faced multiple plagiarism allegations.
Like Magill, Gay also stepped down from her position as president, sparking a discussion about the effectiveness of DEI in colleges and other organizations. Shafik is taking action against the mass protests to make other students and staff safe and welcome.
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