This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . The next check for changes will be

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-68923528

The article has changed 17 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 4 Version 5
Columbia students face suspension if they do not disband pro-Palestinian encampment Columbia students defy deadline to disband pro-Palestinian encampment
(about 4 hours later)
Watch: Aerial view of Gaza protest camp at Columbia University Watch: Gaza protesters defy Columbia deadline to disband
Watch: Aerial view of Gaza protest camp at Columbia University Watch: Gaza protesters defy Columbia deadline to disband
Columbia University administrators have ordered students participating in an ongoing pro-Gaza campus encampment to disband or face disciplinary action. New York City's Columbia University has begun suspending students involved in a pro-Palestinian protest on campus after they defied a deadline to disperse.
In a letter on Monday, the school warned of interim suspensions for all students who do not voluntarily leave the protest by 1400 EST (1800 GMT). College leaders earlier warned those failing to disband from the two-week encampment by 14:00 EST (1800 GMT) on Monday would face disciplinary action.
The Ivy League school's embattled president has acknowledged talks with student organisers were at an impasse. But as the deadline passed, dozens of students rallied at the site.
Columbia's protest has inspired similar actions at colleges across the US. Similar demonstrations have spawned across the US since police cleared another camp at Columbia this month.
Dozens of protesters, some banging drums and shouting "revolution", had gathered to march around the encampment as the deadline elapsed on Monday afternoon. Pressure on the leadership of the elite Ivy League university in Upper Manhattan has been building to act or step aside.
Police were seen carrying zip ties and setting up barricades on campus but it remained unclear if they had plans to arrest students or assist evictions. "What continues to transpire at Columbia is an utter disgrace," US House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson wrote on X, formerly Twitter. "The campus is being overrun by antisemitic students and faculty alike."
Follow live updates: Protesters defy Columbia deadline to leave campus "There must be consequences," the Louisiana Republican added, calling on the university's president, Nemat Shafik, to step down.
Columbia students marched around their pro-Palestinian encampment as the university's deadline to disperse came and went
Earlier on Monday, a group of House Democrats urged Columbia's board of trustees to resign if it would not "act decisively, disband the encampment, and ensure the safety and security of all of its students".
"For the past week, this encampment has been the breeding ground for antisemitic attacks on Jewish students," the 21 lawmakers wrote. "The time for negotiation is over; the time for action is now."
The New York university has become the focal point of the country's debate over the war in Gaza and US support for Israel, as well as fears that antisemitism is putting Jewish students in danger.
On 18 April, police raided a pro-Palestinian encampment on the centre of campus and arrested more than 100 students.
But activists redoubled their efforts, regrouping into another encampment and prompting university leadership to move to hybrid learning.
Over the weekend, the university denied rumours of "an impending lockdown or evictions on campus" and told students it had no plans to bring back police "at this time".
How a police raid on Columbia protest ignited campus movementHow a police raid on Columbia protest ignited campus movement
The New York university has become the focal point of the country's debates over the war in Gaza and US support for Israel, as well as fears that antisemitism is putting Jewish students in danger. On Monday morning, Dr Shafik said in a statement that "since Wednesday, a small group of academic leaders has been in constructive dialogues with student organizers to find a path that would result in the dismantling of the encampment".
"It is past time for the university to act decisively, disband the encampment, and ensure the safety and security of all of its students," a group of Democratic lawmakers wrote on Monday in a letter to the school's board of trustees.
The letter, signed by leading pro-Israeli voices and high-profile Jewish members of Congress, described the encampment as a "breeding ground for antisemitic attacks on Jewish students".
"The time for negotiation is over; the time for action is now," the 21 Democrats wrote, calling on board members to resign if they were unwilling to act.
Earlier this month New York police raided a pro-Palestinian encampment in the campus centre and arrested more than 100 students. Activists redoubled their efforts, regrouping into another encampment and prompting university leadership to move to hybrid learning.
The pro-Palestinian protest encampment at Columbia University is entering its third week
On Monday morning, university president Nemat "Minouche" Shafik revealed in a statement that "since Wednesday, a small group of academic leaders has been in constructive dialogues with student organizers to find a path that would result in the dismantling of the encampment".
"Regretfully, we were not able to come to an agreement," she said."Regretfully, we were not able to come to an agreement," she said.
Over the weekend, the school denied rumours of "an impending lockdown or evictions on campus" and told students it had no plans to bring back police "at this time". In a letter circulated to encampment organisers, the college warned it "will need to initiate disciplinary procedures because of a number of violations of university policies".
But in a new letter circulated to encampment organisers, the school warned it "will need to initiate disciplinary procedures because of a number of violations of university policies". Many protesters on Monday wore face coverings for fear of recrimination
Students were instructed that, if they voluntarily leave the protest and sign a form accepting "an Alternative Resolution" by 1400 local time, they will be allowed to complete their semesters. Students were instructed that if they voluntarily left the protest by 14:00 local time they would be allowed to complete their semesters.
Those who do not will be unable to close out the semester and will be temporarily barred from campus, with those scheduled to graduate no longer eligible to do so. Those who do not will be unable to finish the term and will be temporarily barred from campus, with those scheduled to graduate no longer eligible to do so, college authorities said.
Columbia Students for Justice in Palestine, one of the main groups involved with the encampment, vowed to defy the order in a post on X, formerly Twitter, and called on activists to "protect the encampment". Columbia Students for Justice in Palestine, one of the main groups involved, vowed to defy the order in a post on X and called on activists to "protect the encampment".
"Do not sign anything with administration," the group wrote."Do not sign anything with administration," the group wrote.
The Columbia uprising has sparked similar acts of rebellion by students across the country, with the BBC tracking protests or encampments on campuses in at least 22 other states and Washington DC. As the afternoon deadline came and went, the encampment - a cluster of tents on the Morningside campus - remained.
Student supporters gathered at and marched around the site, some banging drums and chanting: "Revolution!"
What do student protesters at US universities want?
Many wore face coverings, telling the BBC they were worried about being recognised and facing recrimination - though the university wrote in its Monday letter that it had already identified several participants.
Guarding them at the entrance of the encampment was a human chain of staff and faculty members in orange-and-yellow vests, locking arms with each other to prevent entry.
Meanwhile, police seen carrying zip ties and setting up barricades on campus remained on standby, apparently without any orders to make arrests or attempt evictions.
In a media briefing, the university's vice-president of public affairs confirmed it had begun suspending students, partly to avoid any disruption to upcoming graduation ceremonies.
As Columbia administrators grapple with how to respond, the protest there has sparked similar demonstrations by students across the country.
Watch: See how Gaza campus protests spread across the USWatch: See how Gaza campus protests spread across the US
Watch: See how Gaza campus protests spread across the USWatch: See how Gaza campus protests spread across the US
Protesters are calling for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war and many are demanding that the institutions they attend financially divest from Israel. The BBC is tracking protests or encampments on campuses in at least 22 other states and Washington DC.
In her statement on Monday, Dr Shafik said that while Columbia plans to explore range of ideas to better address divestment matters and other student concerns, it "will not divest from Israel". Police moved in on Monday to dismantle an encampment at the University of Texas at Austin after officials said protesters had ignored directions to take down their tents.
The college said in a statement that "baseball size rocks" had been found in the encampment and the "majority of protesters are believed to be unaffiliated with the university".
Elsewhere, police at Virginia Tech arrested 91 people on trespassing charges on Sunday night, including 54 who are currently enrolled in the college.
Arrests were also made on Monday at the University of Georgia.
Many student protesters - who have called for a ceasefire in the Israel-Gaza war for months - are demanding the institutions they attend financially divest from any support for Israel.
State troopers arrest a pro-Palestinian protester at the University of Texas at Austin
In her statement on Monday, Dr Shafik said that while Columbia plans to explore a range of ideas to address student concerns, it "will not divest from Israel".
At the same time, amid alleged incidents of hate speech, harassment and threats of violence by some participants, Jewish students have voiced concern about their safety on campus.At the same time, amid alleged incidents of hate speech, harassment and threats of violence by some participants, Jewish students have voiced concern about their safety on campus.
Protest leader sorry for 'kill Zionists' comments "The world is watching as you continue to fail your Jewish students," congresswoman Elise Stefanik, a New York Republican, said, as she accused Columbia of "empty threats and weak leadership".
Frustration is growing across the US, with hundreds more protestors arrested this weekend on campuses as far apart as Washington University in St Louis, Missouri and California State Polytechnic University in Humboldt, California. Other Republicans, including former President Donald Trump, have highlighted antisemitic chants and incidents at the protests.
Monday's letter from House Democrats is one piece of a party coalition increasingly fractured over the handling of the war in Gaza. The White House is walking an increasingly fine line over the campus protests, seeking to balance the right to peaceful protest with condemnation of hateful speech.
The House is scheduled this week to discuss legislation poised to dramatically expand the definition of antisemitism by making certain language and chants on college campuses punishable under federal anti-discrimination law. "It is a painful moment, we get that," press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said.
Thirteen Democrats are sponsoring the bill, and an eventual vote on the measure could further reignite the party's divisions. Declining to say how university leadership should act, she added: "Free expression has to be done within the law."
On Sunday, White House national security spokesman John Kirby told ABC News that the president respects the right of peaceful protest but "we don't want to see anybody hurt in the process".
Related TopicsRelated Topics
Israel-Gaza warIsrael-Gaza war
UniversitiesUniversities
StudentsStudents
United StatesUnited States