Columbia president says talks with protesters stalled

Columbia University President Minoush Shafik announced on Monday that talks with pro-Palestinian demonstrators on campus, where the national movement for Gaza camps began, have stalled.

Additionally, the university asked students to camp on campus until 2 p.m. Monday and voluntarily pack up their belongings. If that is completed and the students involved sign a commitment to “comply with all university policies” until June 2025, those students will be considered in good standing by the university, according to university guidance. It will be.

According to the university, students who do not withdraw will be suspended and will not be able to complete the semester.

Shafik said in a statement on Monday that the school would not be withdrawn from Israel, which is one of the demonstrators’ main demands for an end to the camps.

“Although the university will not divest from Israel, the university will create an expedited timeline for consideration of new proposals from students by the Socially Responsible Investment Advisory Board, the body that considers divestment issues. “I suggested that,” Shafik said. “The university also proposed to publish a process for students to access the Columbia Direct Investment holdings list and to increase the frequency with which that holdings list is updated.”

Additionally, the school offered to invest in education and health in Gaza and create a faculty committee focused on academic freedom.

Shafik said the school “must consider the rights of all members of our community” and said the encampment made Jewish students feel unsafe and that students preparing for finals It said it was creating a distracting environment and was a “Violation of Title VI.”

“In accordance with our interim demonstration policy, protests may continue on campus during reading days, exams, and after the start of school with a two-day notice application in an approved location. “We do not intend to suppress the right to protest or peaceful protest,” Shafiq said.

The president called on demonstrators to “voluntarily disperse” and administration officials are working on “internal options to end this crisis as quickly as possible.”

She also reassured students that the university’s commencement ceremony will take place after the University of Southern California canceled its ceremony due to violence on campus.

Updated at 11:34am