Columbia University asked the New York Police Department in a letter on Tuesday to clear a building occupied by pro-Palestinian protesters and encampments, and asked that the police remain on campus until at least May 17, after commencement.
President Nemak Shafit requested the N.Y.P.D.’s assistance in a letter that was released after police entered Hamilton Hall and arrested protesters that had occupied the building on early Tuesday. Columbia’s commencement is currently scheduled for May 15.
By late evening, dozens of police officers had arrived, climbed through windows on campus and arrested protesters who had occupied a building since early Tuesday. Much of the campus had been cleared of people, although dozens of protesters still chanted outside of its gates.
Dr. Shafik said in the letter that “the takeover of Hamilton Hall and the continued encampments raise serious safety concerns for the individuals involved and the entire community,” adding that “these activities have become a magnet for protesters outside our gates which creates significant risk to our campus and disrupts the ability of the University to continue normal operations.”
A decision earlier this month to bring police onto campus to clear a tent protest led to sharp criticism from some students and faculty. But Dr. Shafik said on Tuesday that she was left with “no choice.”
“With the support of the University’s Trustees, I have determined that the building occupation, the encampments, and related disruptions pose a clear and present danger to persons, property, and the substantial functioning of the University and require the use of emergency authority to protect persons and property,” she wrote.
She continued: “With the utmost regret, we request the NYPD’s help to clear all individuals from Hamilton Hall and all campus encampments.”
In the letter, Dr. Shafik stated that in the early morning of April 30, a group of individuals entered Hamilton Hall “for the purpose of occupying the building,” and though the building was closed at the time the students entered, an individual hid in the building until after it closed and let the others in.
“We believe that while the group who broke into the building includes students, it is led by individuals who are not affiliated with the University,” the university president said. “The individuals who have occupied Hamilton Hall have vandalized University property and are trespassing.”
Dr. Shafik also mentioned the continuing encampment on the West Lawn of the Morningside Heights campus that has been there since April 19, as well as an additional encampment that appeared on Monday night.
“After more than a week of discussions with representatives of the group engaged in the West Lawn encampment, we reached an impasse on Sunday, April 28,” she said. “The group was informed that they are not permitted to occupy spaces on campus, are in violation of the University’s rules and policies and must disperse.”
She said that all University students in the West Lawn encampment were informed Monday morning that they would be suspended if they did not disperse by 2 p.m. that day and that participation in other campus encampments was prohibited. The students still in the encampments are suspended, she said.
In the letter, Dr. Shafik added that she requested that the Police Department “retain a presence on campus through at least May 17, 2024 to maintain order and ensure encampments are not reestablished.”
Anna Betts
Source link
