Embattled Columbia University President Minouche Shafik on Tuesday warned anti-Israel student protesters they had until midnight to reach an agreement on a plan to dismantle their encampment — or else the school would “consider alternative options” to clear out the tent city.
Shafik said the protesters had been in talks with Columbia faculty and administrators to map out a path to abandoning their camp on the Manhattan campus lawn, which has already been cleared out once before since popping up last week.
“For several days, a small group of faculty, administrators, and University Senators have been in dialogue with student organizers to discuss the basis for dismantling the encampment, dispersing, and following university policies going forward. Those talks are facing a deadline of midnight tonight to reach agreement,” Shafik said.
Follow The Post’s coverage of the anti-Israel protests at Columbia University:
- Columbia cancels in-person classes to ‘reset’ as anti-Israel protests raise tensions
- Columbia’s most outspoken critic of anti-Israel protesters, Prof. Shai Davidai, refused entry to campus for pro-Jewish rally
- Elise Stefanik, all NY House GOP lawmakers demand Columbia President Minouche Shafik resign immediately
- Columbia Jewish alumni demand firing of president Shafik for failing to protect students on campus
“I very much hope these discussions are successful. If they are not, we will have to consider alternative options for clearing the West Lawn and restoring calm to campus so that students can complete the term and graduate.”
The threat comes just one day after the Ivy League president — who vowed to crack down on antisemitism on campus — canceled in-person classes, telling students and faculty that they “need a reset” as the heated demonstrations entered the sixth day.
Shafik noted in her Tuesday letter that the school is also working to track down protesters who have violated the institution’s policies against discrimination and harassment.
“The right to protest is essential and protected at Columbia, but harassment and discrimination is antithetical to our values and an affront to our commitment to be a community of mutual respect and kindness,” she wrote.
Protesters first erected tents on Columbia’s lawn last Wednesday. The following day, the NYPD – at the request of Shafik – cleared out the encampment and arrested more than 100 protesters.
But less than 24 hours later, student protesters had reassembled their anti-Israel tent encampment.
Politicians, including every New York GOP House lawmaker, and pro-Israel groups have called on Shafik to resign over her handling of the campus protests.
In response to Shafik’s Tuesday order, the group Within Our Lifetime put out a call for students and faculty to return to the campus lawn and hunker down ahead of the deadline.”We are calling for students, faculty, and staff to return to the lawn within the hour, and for people of conscience across nyc to gather in protest outside of columbia. we will not be intimidated by threats by the state,” the group said on X.
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