Columbia University President Minouche Shafik has warned student protesters they have until midnight to reach an agreement to dismantle their encampment on the Manhattan campus lawn. The protesters, who have been demonstrating against Israel since last week, have been in discussions with faculty and administrators to map out a path to abandoning their camp. However, if an agreement is not reached by the deadline, the university will consider alternative options for clearing out the tent city.
The threat comes just one day after Shafik canceled in-person classes, telling students and faculty that they “need a reset” as the heated demonstrations enter the sixth day. The protests have been met with mixed reactions from the university community, with some students supporting the protesters’ right to free speech and others calling for the encampment to be removed.
The university has said that it is committed to protecting the safety of its students and faculty and that it will take all necessary steps to ensure that the campus remains a safe and welcoming environment for all. The protesters have said that they are committed to nonviolence and that they will continue to protest until their demands are met.
