Columbia University in New York has set a deadline for administrators and anti-Israel protesters to reach an agreement to end encampments on campus, as police remain on campus.
University President Minoush Shafiq initially set a midnight deadline for an agreement with student organizers that included clearing the camp, dispersing it, and following university policies going forward.
In a message to university officials Tuesday night, Shafiq said that if talks are unsuccessful, administrators will “remove the west lawn and move the campus back to the top so that students can finish the semester and graduate.” “We need to consider alternative plans to restore tranquility.” The university has already moved to hybrid learning for the remainder of the semester, citing safety concerns raised by the protests.
As the midnight deadline expired, student demonstrators on the university’s South Lawn announced that administrators had extended the negotiation deadline until 8 a.m., the university’s student newspaper, the Columbia Spectator, reported.
And around 3:15 a.m., a campus spokesperson issued a statement saying university officials and protest organizers were rushing to reach four major agreements, and the time frame for negotiations was now 48 hours. . However, there was no mention of extending the 8 a.m. deadline.
These conditions include that students must clear a significant number of tents, that only Columbia University students are protesting, and that protesters must comply with FDNY safety mandates. “Student protesters have taken steps to ensure the camp is welcoming to all and prohibit discriminatory or harassing language.” . ”
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Columbia University in New York has set a deadline for administrators and anti-Israel protesters to reach an agreement to end encampments on campus. (Peter Garber)
The protesters said they would not continue negotiations with the administration without a written promise that the administration would not use the NYPD or National Guard against students.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul said there were no plans to mobilize the National Guard to respond to the protests. However, according to a student reporter for radio station WKCR, the NYPD had riot police and anti-terrorism units on standby overnight. Police told demonstrators in the camp to refrain from using amplified noise loudspeakers and punching barricades. Otherwise, you risk arrest.
Ahead of the initial midnight deadline, protesters began removing tents on the west side of the South Lawn, The Columbia Spectator reported. Some demonstrators moved to Fernald Lawn, while dozens of others remained on the west side of the South Lawn.
Shortly after midnight, demonstrators began moving their tents to the west side of the South Lawn.
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The protesters said they would not continue negotiating with the administration without a written promise that the administration would not use the NYPD or National Guard against students. (Peter Garber)
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The deadline for the agreement comes days after the university authorized police to clear the encampment on Thursday, resulting in more than 100 arrests.
“I also want to be clear that we do not tolerate coercive, harassing or discriminatory behavior,” Shafiq said in a message Tuesday night. “We are working to identify demonstrators who violated our anti-discrimination and harassment policies, and appropriate disciplinary procedures will be taken against them.”
“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.” continued Shafik.
