Columbia University has announced students occupying Hamilton Hall will face expulsion after last night's riot.
Demonstrations began at Columbia University two weeks ago as students created a Gaza encampment on campus. The protests subsequently led to similar protests and encampments at universities across the country.
Per a notice issued by Columbia University President Minouche Shafik, students were given until 2 p.m. EST on Monday to disperse their encampment or face suspension.
Last night, pro-Palestinian and anti-Israel protestors escalated their weeks-long campus demonstration into a riot as students and others vandalized and barricaded themselves into Hamilton Hall.
University Spokesperson Ben Chang announced students participating in the siege of the building would face expulsion while others involved will be suspended. "We regret that protesters have chosen to escalate the situation through their actions. Our top priority is restoring safety and order on our campus," Chang wrote in a Tuesday morning statement. "We made it very clear yesterday that the work of the University cannot be endlessly interrupted by protesters who violate the rules." "Protesters have chosen to escalate to an untenable situation - vandalizing property, breaking doors and windows, and blockading entrances - and we are following through with the consequences we outlined yesterday," he continued. "Students occupying the building face expulsion."
Chang warned students who continue to engage in demonstration and riots will be met with "clear consequences."Loading...
The university spokesperson noted demonstrators were warned several times that their Gaza encampment violated numerous campus policies. "We gave everyone at the encampment the opportunity to leave peacefully. By committing to abide by University policies, they would be allowed to complete the semester," Chang wrote. "Students who did not commit to the terms we offered are now being suspended. Those students will be restricted from all academic and recreational spaces and may only access their individual residence." "This is about responding to the actions of the protesters, not their cause," he continued. "Disruptions on campus have created a threatening environment for many of our Jewish students and faculty and a noisy distraction that interferes with teaching, learning, and preparing for final exams, and contributes to a hostile environment in violation of Title VI." "The safety of our community remains our top priority," the notice concluded.
Graduating seniors who decline to abide by the university's terms will be ineligible to graduate, per Chang.
During last night's riot, at least two campus facilities staff were reportedly held hostage though later released. Other counter-protesters were also harassed and intimidated as rioters formed a circle around the detractors and blocked off their movement with university tables.
Rioters later draped a pro-Palestinian banner reading, "Gaza Calls, Columbia Falls" outside a window at Hamilton Hall. Others hung a Palestinian flag outside the building. Another banner was draped from Hamilton Hall reading, "Intifada."
Others inside Hamilton Hall began concealing windows throughout the building as one speaker asserted, "This building is now liberated."
"We will not leave until Columbia meets every one of our demands," the speaker said.
Columbia University has restricted access to its Morningside Heights campus as of Tuesday, leaving one route for essential staff and students, per NBC 4.
