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Protests have broken out at colleges and universities across the country in response to the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Columbia University has witnessed student demonstrators camping on campus since April 17. Pro-Palestinian protesters are urging the Ivy League institution to divest financially from entities that they believe benefit from what they term "Israeli apartheid, genocide, and occupation in Palestine," according to a statement from the group Columbia University Apartheid Divest. However, the details of Columbia's investments are not public and remain largely undisclosed.
Following Columbia University President Minouche Shafik's testimony on antisemitism on campus during a congressional hearing, the protest camp saw an increase in participants. On April 18, a day after Shafik's testimony, over 100 protesters were arrested at Columbia University, and an on-campus tent camp was dismantled after Shafik authorized the New York Police Department to remove the protesters.
In a statement post-protests, Shafik expressed that the encampment "violates all of the new policies, severely disrupts campus life, and creates a harassing and intimidating environment for many of our students."
"Students and outside activists breaking Hamilton Hall doors, mistreating our Public Safety officers and maintenance staff, and damaging property are acts of destruction, not political speech," Shafik remarked. "Many students have also felt uncomfortable and unwelcome because of the disruption and antisemitic comments made by some individuals, especially in the protests that have persistently mobilized outside our gates."
Maryam Alwan, a Columbia University student, was among those arrested on April 18 by New York City police wearing riot gear. Despite being ordered not to do so, Alwan returned to the Columbia University campus the same day after being held in police custody for about eight hours with other protestors.
The following evening, Columbia University sent an email suspending Alwan and other arrested students from what was referred to as the 'Gaza Solidarity Encampment.' Similar approaches were adopted by colleges nationwide to curb campus protests against the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Despite her suspension, Alwan remained on the Columbia University campus for the next eight days, sleeping each night at another protester encampment. She finally left on April 26 but returned on April 30, the day NYPD officers raided Hamilton Hall. Alwan and others were held at a distance in a separate building as officers forcibly removed students and some outsiders who had broken into and barricaded themselves in the academic building.
Maryam Alwan described the situation as "extremely tense," stating, "It's been almost an all-out war between the majority of the student body and the administration. And that came to a boiling point on Tuesday night."
Regarding her presence on campus despite being suspended, Alwan explained, "I was filled with adrenaline and decided to risk further disciplinary action to document what was going on." She criticized the police for their actions, stating, "The police caused way more property damage and endangerment of lives on Tuesday night."
Responding to criticisms of escalating the protests, Alwan emphasized the administration's repeated refusal to listen to student concerns, stating, "The more authorities crack down and refuse to listen, the more people rise up against them."
On the issue of safety for Jewish American students, Alwan stressed the inclusive nature of the protests, noting, "A core component of the organizers are, in fact, Jewish themselves," and that steps were taken to address antisemitism.
Alwan expressed her commitment to completing her degree at Columbia University, despite the challenges, stating, "I have never felt more proud to be a part of the student body and the faculty." She hopes for a reformation at Columbia that is guided by students and faculty.