Columbia cancels in-person classes to ‘reset’ as anti-Israel protests raise tensions
Columbia University canceled all in-person classes Monday ahead of the start of Passover as anti-Israel protests continue on campus — flaring tensions and stoking safety concerns at the prestigious school.
Embattled President Minouche Shafik, who has vowed to crack down on antisemitism, told students in an email that was also shared to the Ivy League college’s website that they “need a reset” as the heated demonstrations enter the sixth day.
“I am deeply saddened by what is happening on our campus. Our bonds as a community have been severely tested in ways that will take a great deal of time and effort to reaffirm,” Shafik wrote.
“Students across an array of communities have conveyed fears for their safety and we have announced additional actions we are taking to address security concerns.”
Those fears, expressed by many Jewish students, were addressed Sunday by a prominent rabbi at the prestigious school, who urged Columbia and Barnard students to go home — and stay there until conflicts on campus dissipate.
Passover, a major Jewish holiday, begins Monday evening.
Shafik said tensions across campus have been “exploited and amplified by individuals who are not affiliated with Columbia who have come to campus to pursue their own agendas.”
“I understand that many are experiencing deep moral distress and want Columbia to help alleviate this by taking action. We should be having serious conversations about how Columbia can contribute,” Shafik said.
Shafik acknowledged there will be many opinions on how the university can do this, but noted they could not “have one group dictate terms and attempt to disrupt important milestones like graduation to advance their point of view.”
Classes will be held virtually on Monday in attempts to deescalate the situation on campus and take a “reset,” Shafik said.
Shafik said that a “working group of Deans, university administrators and faculty members will try to bring this crisis to a resolution” in the coming days.
Follow The Post’s coverage of the anti-Israel protests at Columbia University:
Columbia cancels in-person classes to ‘reset’ as anti-Israel protests raise tensions
Columbia Jewish alumni demand firing of president Shafik for failing to protect students on campus
“That includes continuing discussions with the student protestors and identifying actions we can take as a community to enable us to peacefully complete the term and return to respectful engagement with each other,” she said.
Shafik also encouraged students to report any incidents of intimidation or harassment they may now face on campus, noting “antisemitic language, like any other language that is used to hurt and frighten people, in unacceptable and appropriate action will be taken.”
“We are a caring, mature, thoughtful and engaged community. Let’s remind ourselves of our common values of honoring learning, mutual respect, and kindness that have been the bedrock of Columbia,” Shafik wrote.
“I hope everyone can take a deep breath, show compassion, and work together to rebuild the ties that bind us together.”
The campus — and others around the nation — have been hotbeds of antisemitic protests since Hamas terrorists pulled off a sneak attack on Israel on Oct. 7, with the Jewish state responding with a counter-offensive that has killed thousands in the Gaza Strip.
The show of blatant support for Hamas on American college campuses has rattled some students, particularly Jewish students.
On Sunday, a prominent rabbi at the prestigious school urged Columbia and Barnard students to stay home — and university officials told them they could take classes online.
The Post has reached out to Columbia for comment.
