Administrators at Columbia University prepared for citywide walkouts to mark the anniversary of the October 7 attacks in Israel and the war on Gaza. A Columbia Law school administrator instructed professors to call security officers on protesters causing disruptions in classrooms. Professors were told to give warnings to violators of university conduct rules and call campus Public Safety if disruptions continued.
The crackdown on student activism against the war has intensified, with thousands of arrests and debates on academic freedom. Columbia has faced calls to divest from companies linked to Israel, resulting in protests and mass arrests. The campus saw a few protests this semester, including a march, a sit-in protesting Hillary Clinton’s class, and silent study-in protests.
Students for Justice in Palestine organized a walkout, urging students to join the fight for Palestine. Interim President Katrina Armstrong warned of uncertainty and increased security across campus. Unregistered walkouts and potential violence prompted security measures, with only individuals with campus IDs allowed inside.
Columbia remains a battleground for anti-war activism, urging students to continue their fight against the atrocities in Gaza.