Pressure rises amid Columbia protests, as lawmakers call on university president to resign

NEW YORK — People of divergent political beliefs found a common voice in one thing at Columbia University Monday: Criticizing the school president over her handling of escalating campus tensions.

Republicans accused the school of being soft on incidents of antisemitism. Pro-Palestinian student protesters argued the university inappropriately called in the New York Police Department to squash free speech. Faculty staged a mass walkout.

Amid the unrest, as the Jewish holiday of Passover approached, university President Minouche Shafik made classes virtual and urged students living off campus not to come to the Ivy League school.

Lines of New York Police Department officers donning riot gear and carrying zip-ties surrounded the Upper Manhattan campus.

It was the latest instance of growing strife on prominent college campuses across the country as students, professors and politicians grapple with fallout from the war in Gaza.

“Every single one of these college and university presidents who refuse to take action should immediately resign in disgrace and if they don’t resign, [they] should be thrown out,” Hudson Valley Republican Rep. Mike Lawler — who faces a tough election this year — told reporters. “I have never seen a more disgraceful act than what we are seeing on college campuses right now.”

Lawler has introduced bills to combat antisemitism, including one that would strip institutions of federal dollars if they promote or sanction antisemitic events.

Speaking at a campus rally with fellow Republicans, Lawler urged Shafik to “resign in disgrace” and for all students engaging in “antisemitic hate” to be “expelled immediately.”

The demand — if not the reasoning for it — was shared by those who also flocked to the campus Monday to protest the school’s handling of the situation.

Hundreds of faculty members — some of whom wore academic regalia — and students took to the university's Low Steps to urge the school to reverse its suspensions of students who participated in an encampment last week and issue an apology. Some also called for Shafik to step down.

“Thursday, April 18, 2024 will be remembered as a shameful day in Columbia’s history,” Christopher Brown, a professor in the history department, said to cheers from the crowd.

Brown was referring to the arrest of more than 100 students protesting Israel’s military operation in Gaza, which has killed over 34,000 Palestinians since it began after the deadly Hamas attack on Israel on Oct. 7. (Shafik ordered the police to enter the campus; as they made the arrests, thousands of students surrounded them, shouting for them to stop.)

Establishment Democrats — including the governor, mayor and Jewish members of Congress — were more measured in their remarks about Shafik.

As Republican legislators and personalities rallied across the street from campus to denounce the protesters, accusing them of supporting Hamas militants and terrorism, Jewish Democratic representatives held a competing news conference at the Columbia and Barnard’s Hillel building.

“Over the past several days, the rhetoric has escalated to a point where Jewish students feel unsafe, insecure and broadly harassed, to the point where the president had to cancel classes today and make them virtual,” said Rep. Daniel Goldman, who represents Brooklyn and Manhattan. “That is unacceptable for a university. That is unacceptable for an academic institution.”

He and fellow Democrats at the rally didn’t call for Shafik to step down — yet.

“The pressure is on for the university president to act,” said New Jersey Rep. Josh Gottheimer, when asked if Shafik should resign. “I think there has to be accountability. We’ve seen good steps forward, but the bottom line is we’re going to be watching every single day.”

Gov. Kathy Hochul convened Shafik, First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright and the NYPD at Columbia Monday morning to discuss strategies to ensure safety on campus amid the protests. She also met with students.

In a video filmed outside the campus, Hochul said people have the right to freedom of speech and to peacefully assemble but also vowed to protect students from facing persecution over their religious beliefs.

In the wake of the protests, a slew of high-level officials have spoken out against the protests.

President Joe Biden on Monday blasted "antisemitic protests" but also condemned "those who don’t understand what’s going on with the Palestinians.” But when asked whether Shafik should resign, he said he wasn't sure.

Mayor Eric Adams on Monday afternoon said the NYPD will come onto private property if there's an imminent threat. He compared the fear Jewish students are currently feeling to African American students being escorted into an all-white high school in Little Rock, Arkansas.

“What we are seeing playing out on many of our college campuses, and particularly Columbia University, is hate,” the mayor told CNN. “We’re seeing vile language being used, and at no time should we call for the destruction of anyone, should we call for violence towards anyone. That is not what protesting is about.”

NYPD officials on Monday told reporters they are restricted in how they can proceed, absent an ongoing crime or an emergency. But they set up a large police presence on the public streets and sidewalks around the university. Officers will take action to prevent crime and make arrests in the event of a crime, they said.

“If there’s imminent threat on any college campus, private or not, we’re going to respond,” Adams told CBS News 24/7 Monday afternoon, speaking from Miami where he traveled for an unrelated summit. He’s planning to meet with “all of our colleges” to explain how to work with the NYPD to prevent violations on private property and of laws.

Deputy Mayor for Communications Fabien Levy — who visited Columbia with administration officials — told POLITICO the mayor is monitoring the situation and that the NYPD has been briefing him.

“President Shafik is focused on deescalating the rancor on Columbia’s campus,” a Columbia spokesperson said in a statement to POLITICO. “She is working across campus with members of the faculty, administration, and Board of Trustees, and with state, city, and community leaders, and appreciates their support.”

Meanwhile, New York’s congressional Republican delegation — led by Rep. Elise Stefanik, who called on Shafik to resign Sunday — on Monday sent a letter to the school president accusing her of taking too long to authorize the NYPD to clear the student encampment last week.

The encampment, the letter said, has “shockingly” been allowed to reconvene and the NYPD has not been permitted to return. The representatives blasted instances of “antisemitic harassment” and Shafik’s “continued lax enforcement of policy.”

“While the rot is systemic, the responsibility rests squarely on your shoulders,” the lawmakers wrote. “It is time for Columbia University to turn the page on this shameful chapter. This can only be done through the restoration of order and your prompt resignation.”

Emily Ngo contributed to this report.