In a letter Tuesday, Columbia University requested the New York City Police Department to clear buildings occupied by pro-Palestinian protesters and encampments, and requested that police stay on campus till a minimum of May 17 after the protests start. .
President Nemak Shafiq requested help from the NYPD in a letter launched after police entered Hamilton Hall early Tuesday and arrested protesters who had occupied the constructing. Columbia University’s graduation ceremony is presently scheduled for May fifteenth.
“The occupation of Hamilton Hall and the continued encampment elevate severe safety issues for these concerned and the neighborhood at massive,” Dr. Shafiq mentioned within the letter. It has turn out to be a magnet for protesters outdoors its gates, creating a major danger.” invade our campuses and disrupt the college’s means to proceed regular operations. ”
The resolution to convey police to campus to clear a tent protest earlier this month led to intense criticism from some college students and school. But Dr. Shafiq mentioned Tuesday that “there was no selection.”
She went on to say, “It is with nice remorse that I request the help of the NYPD to take away everybody from Hamilton Hall and all encampments on campus.”
Dr. Shafiq mentioned within the letter {that a} group entered Hamilton Hall within the early morning hours of April thirtieth “with the intent of occupying the constructing” and that a person hid within the constructing, which was closed when the scholars entered. . Please keep within the constructing till it closes and permit others inside.
“Although the group that entered the constructing included college students, we consider it was led by people not affiliated with the college,” the president mentioned. “The occupants of Hamilton Hall are destroying and trespassing on college property.”
Dr. Shafiq additionally talked about an encampment that has been repeatedly arrange on the west garden of the Morningside Heights campus since April 19, and an extra encampment that appeared on Monday evening.
“After greater than per week of discussions with representatives of the teams engaged on the Westlawn encampment, an deadlock was reached on Sunday, April 28,” she mentioned. “This group has been suggested that it should be disbanded as a result of it isn’t allowed to occupy area on campus and is in violation of college guidelines and insurance policies.”
She mentioned all faculty college students on the West Lawn encampment had been instructed Monday morning that if they didn’t disperse by 2 p.m. that day, they’d be suspended and prohibited from collaborating in encampments on different campuses. . Students nonetheless in camp have been suspended, she mentioned.
Dr. Shafiq added within the letter that he requested police to “stay a presence on campus till a minimum of May 17, 2024 to keep up order and forestall encampments from re-establishing.”