Pro-Palestinian protests could affect graduation at Columbia University
NEW YORK (PIX11) — The pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia University have forced the school to do remote learning for the time being and could disrupt graduation protocols, police said Monday.
The school will hold virtual classes this entire week and possibly next week, according to a high-ranking NYPD official. The shift to virtual classes began Monday in an attempt to de-escalate the situation on campus, Columbia president Minouche Shafik said.
All faculty and staff were encouraged to work remotely and off-campus students were advised not to come to school, the president said.
Protests at the school started last Wednesday when hundreds of students pitched tents to speak out against Israel’s military action in Gaza. Protesters are calling on the school to divest from companies that they said, “profit from Israeli apartheid.”
More than 100 protesters were arrested after Shafik called the NYPD to help clear the demonstrators from campus on Thursday, according to authorities. All but two people who were arrested went peacefully, the NYPD said. They were all given summonses for trespassing.
Two people were arrested off campus for disorderly conduct on Monday, police said. They were given summonses. The NYPD is not allowed to make on-campus arrests unless asked by the university, authorities said.
An unauthorized encampment also popped up at the New School over the weekend. The New School president said they’re in dialogue with the students over their concerns, and no arrests will be made at this time.
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