Thanuja Jayani, JadeTimes Staff
T. Jayani is a JadeTimes news reporter covering USA
Columbia University commenced the new academic year with a resurgence of protests and heightened security at its renowned New York City campus. The previous term saw significant and intense campus demonstrations in response to Israel’s military actions in Gaza. On the first day of the new term, the attention was on the protestors assembling at the university’s gates to gauge the scale of their demonstrations. The police reported at least two arrests but described the protests as "peaceful."
Pro-Palestinian demonstrators, many wearing traditional keffiyeh scarves, were audible from several blocks away on Tuesday morning. They chanted "Free Palestine," beat drums, and marched outside Columbia’s gates. Meanwhile, students and staff observed from behind metal barricades as their IDs were checked before entering the campus.
Inside, the statue of Alma Mater in front of Low Memorial Library was vandalized with red paint, reportedly by protesters, leading to a temporary closure of the area for cleaning. Last academic year ended with a pro-Palestinian encampment on campus being raided by the New York Police Department, followed by a brief occupation of an academic building by student protesters. This led to over 100 arrests and the cancellation of the main graduation ceremony. The student body left for the summer amid significant unrest.
Minouche Shafik, the university president who oversaw the encampment and the police raid, resigned last month. On Tuesday, protestors urged returning students to remember the reasons behind last year’s demonstrations, distributing flyers that called for attention to the Palestinian casualties.
Many students appeared largely unaffected by the protests. Stephanie Lee, a 28 year old business graduate student, felt "OK" with the heightened security, while freshman Rachel Black saw the protests as part of her educational experience.
Columbia University spokesperson Samantha Slater did not address the protests directly in her statement but emphasized the institution's commitment to teaching and maintaining a safe campus environment.
Since the attack on Israel by Hamas on October 7, 2023, which resulted in around 1,200 deaths and 251 hostages, and Israel’s retaliatory actions in Gaza that have led to approximately 40,000 deaths, the campus has seen numerous protests and counter protests. On Sunday, Israel announced the recovery of six hostages' bodies, including that of 23 year old Israeli-American Hersh Goldberg Polin.
David Lederer, a 22 year old junior at Columbia, led a small counter protest with a fellow Jewish student, displaying a banner that read “Get Support for Terrorism Off Our Campus” and a photo of Goldberg Polin. Lederer and other pro-Israel students have expressed concerns about antisemitism on campus, arguing that pro-Palestinian groups have not adequately condemned the October 7 attack or its perpetrators.
