Columbia University canceled in-person classes on Monday following the arrest of over 100 anti-Israel protesters on campus.
In a statement put on the university’s website on Monday, President Nemat Minouche Shafik stated that she is “deeply saddened by what is happening on our campus,” and that courses will be held virtually to “deescalate the rancor and give us all a chance to consider next steps.”
While the required employees must report to work in accordance with university policy, faculty and staff are recommended to work remotely.
“Our preference is that students who do not live on campus will not come to campus,” the president stated.
The decision came after various organizations and Jewish leaders urged Columbia to protect student safety following allegations of antisemitic and discriminatory words and actions on and near its campus. Following the rally, a college rabbi urged that Jewish students return home for their own safety.
What is happening at Columbia University?
In the statement, Shafik also claimed that the university administration, a working group of Deans, and faculty members will attempt to resolve the ongoing problem in the coming days.
“That includes continuing discussions with the student protestors and identifying actions we can take as a community to enable us to peacefully complete the term and return to respectful engagement with each other,” she stated.
She asked anybody affected by protests to report such incidents through university channels, guaranteeing action against any language used to harm or frighten people, including antisemitic insults.
As students from various communities expressed worries about their safety, Columbia University has taken additional steps to address these concerns.
“These tensions have been exploited and amplified by individuals who are not affiliated with Columbia who have come to campus to pursue their own agendas,” the statement read.
Tensions on college campuses have risen since Israel declared war on Hamas following the October 7 attack on its territory, which killed 1,200 Israelis.
According to the Associated Press, the Israel-Hamas conflict has killed more than 34,000 Palestinians.
The situation at Columbia University worsened when students set up a “Gaza Solidarity Encampment” on campus last week to protest Israel’s ongoing military activity in Gaza.