Minouche Shafik, president of Columbia University, broke her silence a day after the NYPD raided an intellectual creating occupied by pro-Palestine protesters.
In a videos posted to X on Friday evening, Shafik described the past few months at Columbia University as being, “among the most hard” in the history of the school, adding that the school also has” a lot to do”.
After NYPD officers in riot gear raided anti-Israel activists who had taken command of Hamilton Hall early on Tuesday night, slashed the building’s glass doors, dragged walls inside, and hang pro-Palestine flags from the panels, Shafik said.
” These past two months have been among the most difficult in Columbia’s story. The tumult and anxiety, division, and disturbance have impacted the whole community”, Shafik began. ” You, our students, have paid an especially high price. Your last days were spent in the residence halls and classrooms. For those of you who are elderly, you’re finishing school the way you started- website”.
A text from President Shafik. photograph. twitter.com/zd8i2DE4wp
— Columbia University (@Columbia ) May 3, 2024
Shafik continued to state that while the majority of the protesters were “largely calm and concerned about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza,” university officials had been attempting to reach out to the activists for days in an effort to make a” genuine and great offer.”
With the job of Hamilton Hall,” a group of demonstrators crossed a fresh line,” Shafik continued. It was a violent action that put the demonstrators at risk as well as our kids in danger. I walked through the tower and saw the harm, which was distressing”.
On April 17, Columbia University established its first anti-Israel campsite. Numerous students were suspended the following morning, and hundreds of protesters were detained for their participation in the camp.
The second encampment had been removed by the school, but a second one had remained until the NYPD attack on Columbia University.
Anti- Israel camps and rallies have popped up on college and university schools around the nation for as George Washington University, Harvard University, Princeton University, Rutgers University, and the University of Southern California, among people.
According to Shafik, each person has a “role to play in restoring the truth and legal discourse that polarization has greatly damaged.”
” Working up, I know we can break down these obstacles. As many of you know, I was born in the Middle East, I grew up in a Muslim community with many Jewish and Christian associates”, Shafik added.
Shafik explained that despite Columbia University being a “remarkable organization” can never solve the issues relating to hatred, anti- Muslim discrimination, and the Israel and Israeli discord.
” What we can do is get an example of a better universe, where people who disagree would so civilly, acknowledge each other’s society and exhibit empathy and compassion for one another”, Shafik added. We still have a lot to accomplish, but I’m determined to continue to help restore our campus community with each other every day.
