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After NYPD on-campus arrests, Columbia faculty group calls for no confidence vote on Shafik

Cayla Bamberger, New York Daily News on

Published in News & Features

NEW YORK — A faculty group at Columbia University on Thursday called for a vote of no confidence in Minouche Shafik, the newly minted university president whose tenure has been marred by campus protests and criticism of her use of the New York Police Department.

The campus chapter of the American Association of University Professors, a professional faculty organization, said the shared decision of the administration — including the Board of Trustees and other officials — to call police to clear pro-Gaza student protests was made without consulting the university Senate and violated procedures.

“The choice of Columbia’s administrators to ignore university statutes and customary practices honored over the past six decades, to have our students violently arrested, and to impose a militarized lockdown of our campus, has irrevocably undermined our trust in them,” the statement read.

The police raid Tuesday night resulted in the arrest of 109 protesters in and around campus, including dozens of protesters inside the occupied Hamilton Hall. Many students and faculty are barred from campus, which is only open to students living in a handful of dorms and essential services staff.

Much of the Columbia community was encouraged to leave campus early if they could rearrange their plans, as final exams and review sessions were moved online. Shafik has asked that NYPD stay on campus until a couple of days after graduation on May 15.

Shafik and other Columbia officials, backed by Mayor Eric Adams and the Police Department, have defended the decision to bring in cops in riot gear as lamentable but necessary.

 

“Over the last few months, we have been patient in tolerating unauthorized demonstrations, including the encampment,” Shafik said in a statement Wednesday, adding she decided to ask police to intervene “because my first responsibility is safety.”

“It is going to take time to heal, but I know we can do that together,” she continued.

University officials cautioned the AAUP does not represent all faculty at Columbia.

“President Shafik continues to regularly consult with members of the community, including faculty, administration, and trustees, as well as with state, city and community leaders,” said a Columbia spokesman. “She appreciates the efforts of those working alongside her on the long road ahead to heal our community.”

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