Columbia Faculty Leave School in Support of Pro-Palestinian Students

Columbia University faculty members have staged a walkout in support of students arrested and suspended after participating in pro-Palestinian demonstrations.

Students established a "Gaza Solidarity Encampment" at the Ivy League campus in New York City on April 17 to protest Israel's ongoing assault in Gaza and demand Columbia administration divest from Israel-affiliated companies.

Police soon raided the encampment and arrested over 100 students, who were then suspended by the university. The protests continued to grow after the clearout, with some participants putting up tents again over the weekend.

Amid the protests, multiple antisemitic incidents including the harassment of Jewish students have been reported, although students and Columbia officials have claimed that groups from outside the university are to blame.

On Monday, after it was announced that in-person classes were being canceled due to the chaos, a large number of Columbia faculty members walked outside to demonstrate in support of the protesters.

The faculty members did not demonstrate to express their explicit support for the pro-Palestinian cause. Instead, many held signs reading "End Student Suspensions Now," "Hands Off Our Students" and "Restore Faculty Governance."

While it was unclear how many faculty members took part in the pro-student demonstration, images and videos quickly shared to social media suggest that at least several dozen took part.

A Columbia University spokesperson on Monday declined Newsweek's request for comment on the faculty walkout, while sharing a statement that Columbia President Nemat "Minouche" Shafik released earlier in the day.

"During the coming days, a working group of Deans, university administrators and faculty members will try to bring this crisis to a resolution," Shafik said in the statement. "I know that there is much debate about whether or not we should use the police on campus, and I am happy to engage in those discussions."

"Over the past days, there have been too many examples of intimidating and harassing behavior on our campus," she continued. "I hope everyone can take a deep breath, show compassion, and work together to rebuild the ties that bind us together."

During the faculty demonstration, Columbia professor of history Christopher L. Brown condemned Shafik for calling police on the protesters, which led to the encampment being cleared out by officers in riot gear on April 18.

"Thursday, April 18, 2024, will be remembered as a shameful day in Columbia's history," Brown said. "The president's decision to send riot police to pick up peaceful protesters on our campus was unprecedented, unjustified, disproportionate, divisive and dangerous."

"I have no confidence in the president's leadership," he continued. "With what she has said and what she has not said, and with what she has done and what she has not done—she has forfeited the privilege of leading this great university."

Shai Davidai, a Columbia business professor who claims that he was locked out of the school because he is Jewish and opposed to the pro-Palestinian protests, condemned the university's president for a very different reason during a smaller demonstration on Monday.

"President Shafik supports terrorism, that should be the headline of every news media," Davidai said while speaking to a group carrying U.S. and Israel flags. "Because we have terrorist ideology on campus and we have a president that is negotiating with them."

"That makes her a supporter of terrorism," he added. "She should be fired not tomorrow, not tonight [but] today—this very minute."