The Columbia University, in the United States, this Monday gave the pro-Palestinian students who occupy its campus a period of a few hours, until 2:00 p.m. local time, to leave the camp under penalty of being suspended and not being able to finish the academic year.
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The university's letter, released by several activist groups – including one called Columbia Students for Justice in Palestine – offers protesters the possibility of avoiding this extreme measure if they agree to leave the place, take your belongings and sign a document.
Protesters demand that the prestigious university cut ties with Israel and companies profiting from the war in Gaza.
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If the student leaving the camp does not sign that document, will also suffer retaliation knowing that the University “has already identified many” of the participants: “If you do not identify yourself when leaving and do not sign this document, you will not be able to hope to complete the semester in due form. And if you do not leave before 2 in the afternoon, you will be suspended until a further investigation.”
As the May 15 graduation date approaches, along with final exams, nervousness is growing over the possibility that pro-Palestinian encampments could disrupt any of these vital moments at the university.
Hours before the warning was announced, the rector of Columbia University had already urged pro-Palestinian protesters on Monday to “voluntarily” end the protests that have spread to other centers in the United States.
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“We are consulting with a broader group of our community to explore alternative internal options that will end this crisis as soon as possible,” said Rector Minouche Shafik in a message to protesters demanding that the prestigious university cut ties with Israel and companies profiting from the war in Gaza.
The rector had promised last week not to resort to the police to dismantle the camp erected in the campus gardens, as happened on April 18, when a hundred students were detained and then suspended by the center.
Pro-Palestinian supporters wave flags in front of the entrance to Columbia University.
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“Anti-Semitic language and acts are unacceptable and calls for violence are simply abhorrent,” he said before recalling that the “right of one group to express their opinions cannot be detrimental to the right of another group to speak, teach and learn”.
He also announced that the university will not “disinvest in Israel,” but offered to work out an accelerated schedule that “reviews new student proposals” and “make investments in health and education in Gaza, including support for early childhood development and support for displaced academics.”
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