Columbia University’s Acting President Denounces Library Occupation, Vows Disciplinary Action
The acting president of Columbia University, Claire Shipman, has issued a strong condemnation of the occupation of Butler Library on Wednesday by over 100 anti-Israel protestors. The incident resulted in dozens of arrests, injuries to two university officers, and significant disruption to students preparing for final examinations.
Shipman’s statement, released Wednesday night, described the hours-long occupation as "utterly unacceptable." The protestors, reportedly rallying in support of Mahmoud Khalil, the accused ringleader of pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia, and demanding the university divest from Israel, stormed the library in the afternoon as students were studying for finals.
According to Shipman, the protestors caused "substantial chaos" and damaged the campus building while occupying one of the library’s main reading rooms and breaching the building’s front door. The disruption prompted the university to call the New York Police Department (NYPD) for assistance.
"These actions not only represented a violation of University policies, but they also posed a serious risk to our students and campus safety," Shipman stated.
Shipman, who took over as acting president in March, said she visited the library during the occupation and was disheartened by what she witnessed, including a Columbia public safety officer being wheeled out on a gurney and another being treated for injuries. She also noted that the reading room was "defaced and damaged in disturbing ways and with disturbing slogans."
"Violence and vandalism, hijacking a library—none of that has any place on our campus. These aren’t Columbia’s values," Shipman asserted.
The acting president emphasized that such behavior would not be tolerated at Columbia. "Let me be clear: Columbia unequivocally rejects antisemitism and all other forms of harassment and discrimination. And we certainly reject a group of students—and we don’t yet know whether there were outsiders involved—closing down a library in the middle of the week before finals and forcing 900 students out of their study spaces, many leaving belongings behind," she said.
Shipman praised the response of professors, campus police, and NYPD officers, describing their efforts to defuse the situation as "orderly, professional, and extremely limited, with a focus on the students who refused to leave the reading room."
With final examinations scheduled to begin on Friday, Columbia is currently in the midst of its designated "study days." Shipman expressed that she is "heartbroken and incensed" that the occupation caused "unnecessary stress and danger" for students studying in the library.
"I have seen how much our community wants to take back our narrative, to do what they came to Columbia to do—learn, thrive, and grow—not take over a library," she said. "Moreover, I am deeply disturbed at the idea that, at a moment when our international community feels particularly vulnerable, a small group of students would choose to make our institution a target."
Shipman stated that the "clear line between legitimate protest and actions that endanger others and disrupt" the university’s operations was crossed on Wednesday. She expressed confidence that "disciplinary proceedings will reflect the severity of the actions."
The protest has also drawn a response from New York City Mayor Eric Adams, who affirmed the city’s support for Jewish New Yorkers, including the Jewish student population at Columbia. "To those protesting on campus who do not attend Columbia: exit the campus immediately or you will be arrested," Adams said. "We will not tolerate hate or violence in any form in our city."
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has confirmed that it is monitoring the arrests made at the protest and that all suspects will be fingerprinted to determine if any are non-citizens.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio echoed that sentiment, stating on X, "We are reviewing the visa status of the trespassers and vandals who took over Columbia University’s library. Pro-Hamas thugs are no longer welcome in our great nation."
Columbia University has been a focal point for anti-Israel protests since the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. These protests have led to clashes between pro-Hamas and pro-Israel groups, as well as significant criticism regarding the prevalence of antisemitism on campus. The university administration has faced increasing pressure to address the issue and ensure the safety and well-being of all students. The library occupation further intensifies scrutiny on Columbia and its handling of campus protests and related safety concerns.
