As the protests support a solution on the Gaza humanitarian crisis go on!
The university leaders are facing pressure from the left snd right of the political spectrum to end the situation…
Columbia University has given students until 2 p.m. on Monday to clear out from the pro-Palestinian encampment that has occupied a central lawn on its campus for nearly two weeks, warning them that they will face immediate suspension if they do not leave by then.
The move appears to be an attempt to clear the encampment without calling in the Police Department, whose intervention on April 18 at the request of Columbia administrators led to more than 100 student arrests and incited an international movement to build similar encampments on dozens of university and college campuses.
Students in the encampment on Monday morning received a notice from administrators stating that negotiations with student protest leaders were at an impasse. It urged the students to clear out voluntarily to allow the school to prepare the lawn for graduation ceremonies on May 15.
“The current unauthorized encampment and disruption on Columbia University’s campus is creating an unwelcoming environment for members of our community,” the notice stated. “Please promptly gather your belongings and leave the encampment.”…
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The group then voted overwhelmingly, by show of hands, to stay past the 2 p.m. deadline. A small crowd began to gather around the encampment, including about 20 faculty members wearing orange reflective vests to monitor the scene….
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Columbia University’s board is facing new pressure from a group of House Democrats to “act decisively” and end an ongoing pro-Palestinian encampment on its campus or resign, Axios has learned.
Why it matters: Calls for Columbia officials to resign have largely been confined to the GOP, making this a major escalation in Democrats’ rhetoric on the high-profile demonstration.
Driving the news: In a letter to the university’s board of trustees, 21 House Democrats wrote of their “disappointment that, despite promises to do so, Columbia University has not yet disbanded the unauthorized and impermissible encampment of anti-Israel, anti-Jewish activists on campus.”
- The group, led by Reps. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.) and Dan Goldman (D-N.Y.) called to “disband the encampment, and ensure the safety and security of all of its students.”
- “If any Trustees are unwilling to do this, they should resign so that they can be replaced by individuals who will uphold the University’s legal obligations under Title VI,” the lawmakers added.
Zoom in: The letter was mostly signed by moderate and swing-district members, including 10 Jewish lawmakers.
- Among the signers is Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), the former House majority leader.
- A Columbia University spokesperson declined to comment on the letter…..