Embattled Columbia University President Minoush Shafiq told anti-Israel student demonstrators on Tuesday that they had until midnight to reach an agreement on a plan to clear the camp or the university would issue an “alternative” plan to clear the tent city. He warned that the proposal would be considered.
Shafiq said the protesters are in talks with Columbia University faculty and administrators to chart a path to abandoning their camp on the Manhattan campus lawn, but it has already been cleared once since last week’s rally. It is said that there is
“For several days, a small group of faculty, administrators, and university senate members have been speaking with student organizers to discuss the basis for dismantling and dispersing the encampment and following university policy going forward. These talks have a midnight deadline tonight to reach an agreement,” Shafiq said.
Follow The Post’s coverage of anti-Israel protests at Columbia University.
“We strongly hope that these discussions will be successful. If not, we will consider alternative plans to remove the west lawn and restore tranquility to campus so that students can finish the semester and graduate.” need to do it.”
The threat comes just a day after the Ivy League president, who vowed to crack down on anti-Semitism on campus, canceled in-person classes and told students, faculty and staff they “need a reset” as protests entered their sixth day. It happened on.
Shafiq said in Tuesday’s letter that the school is also working to track down protesters who violate the school’s policies against discrimination and harassment.
“The right to protest is essential and protected in Colombia, but harassment and discrimination go against our values and are an affront to our promise to be a community of mutual respect and kindness.” she wrote.
Protesters erected tents for the first time on Columbia’s lawn last Wednesday. The next day, at Mr. Shafiq’s request, the NYPD cleared the encampment and arrested more than 100 protesters.
But less than 24 hours later, student demonstrators regrouped at an anti-Israel tent encampment.
Politicians and pro-Israel groups, including all of New York’s Republican members of Congress, have called for Shafiq to resign over his handling of campus protests.
In response to Shafiq’s Tuesday order, the group Our Lifetime called on students and faculty to return to campus lawns and hunker down before the deadline. ” In less than an hour, people of conscience from all over New York will be gathering to protest outside Columbia. We will not be intimidated by state threats,” the group said. He said it in X.
