Protesting Columbia students say they are at an impasse with leaders
NEW YORK — Columbia University students who inspired pro-Palestinian demonstrations across the country said Friday that they have reached an impasse with administrators and intend to continue their encampment until their demands are met.
The announcement after two days of exhaustive negotiations comes as Columbia's president faces harsh criticism from faculty. The development puts more pressure on university officials to find a resolution ahead of planned graduation ceremonies next month — a problem that campuses from California to Massachusetts are facing.
As the death toll mounts in the war in Gaza and the humanitarian crisis worsens, protesters at universities across the country are demanding schools cut financial ties to Israel. Some Jewish students say the protests have veered into antisemitism and made them afraid to set foot on campus, partly prompting calls for police intervention.
After a tent encampment popped up Thursday at Indiana University Bloomington, police with shields and batons shoved into protesters and arrested 34. Hours later at the University of Connecticut, police tore down tents and arrested one person.
And at Ohio State University, police clashed with protesters just hours after they gathered Thursday evening.
Those who refused to leave after warnings were arrested and charged with criminal trespass, said university spokesperson Benjamin Johnson. He said a preliminary report indicated there were 36 arrests, including 16 students and 20 people unaffiliated with the university.
Columbia officials had said negotiations were showing progress as the school's self-imposed early Friday deadline to reach an agreement on dismantling the encampment came and went. Nevertheless, two police buses were parked nearby and there was a noticeable presence of private security and police at entrances to the campus.
“We have our demands; they have theirs,” said Ben Chang, a spokesperson for Columbia University, adding that if the talks fail, the university will have to consider other options.
Student negotiators representing the Columbia encampment said the university had not met their primary demand for divestment, although they had made progress on a push for more transparent financial disclosures.
“We will not rest until Columbia divests,” said Jonathan BenMenachem, a fourth-year doctoral student.