Latest news with #LauraRosenbury
The Independent
06-03-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Bomb threat clears Barnard College library during pro-Palestinian protest
Barnard College 's library was evacuated by police after a bomb threat was made during a sit-in staged by pro- Palestinian protesters on Tuesday. The New York Police Department said on X, formerly Twitter, that a bomb threat was reported at the upper Manhattan college's Milstein Center, which serves as the hub for academic life on campus. The department said anyone refusing to leave the building during the evacuation would be subject to arrest. 'Please stay away from the area,' the police said in its post. The department later confirmed arrests had been made but it was still unclear how many were in custody and what charges they faced. Videos shared widely on social media showed protesters inside the building earlier on Wednesday afternoon chanting, playing drums and hanging Palestinian flags on walls. Most wore kaffiyeh scarves and other coverings obscuring their faces. Videos from Wednesday evening showed police entering the building wearing helmets and carrying zip ties and then later clearing the protesters and others from the lawn outside the building. College spokespersons and a student group that had coordinated the protest didn't immediately respond to emails seeking comment. Barnard President Laura Rosenbury denounced the protest earlier on Wednesday. 'Our academic mission is at the heart of what we do, and disruptions to that mission are an affront to the purpose of higher education and cannot be tolerated,' she wrote in a message sent to the campus community. 'We must not allow the actions of a few interfere with our mission. Campus activities outside of Milstein and throughout the rest of the campus are proceeding as normal.' The group Columbia Students for Justice in Palestine said on X that students launched their sit-in at 1pm on Wednesday in the Milstein library lobby in response to the expulsions of student protesters and other recent actions taken by school officials. 'Despite Barnard militarizing campus and inviting NYPD to patrol our academic buildings, we have successfully relaunched our sit-in against the expulsions,' the student group said on Instagram as they called for school officials to reinstate the expelled students. Last week, pro-Palestinian protesters wearing keffiyeh scarves and masks pushed their way into the college's Milbank Hall, which houses the offices of the dean, and assaulted a school employee, according to school officials. Protest organizers said they dispersed after the administration agreed to meet with them over their demands, which included amnesty for all students disciplined for pro-Palestinian action.
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Police responding to bomb threat clear pro-Palestinian protesters occupying Barnard College library
NEW YORK (AP) — Barnard College's library was evacuated Wednesday as police responded to a bomb threat during a sit-in staged by pro-Palestinian protesters. The New York Police Department said on X, formerly Twitter, that a bomb threat was reported at the upper Manhattan college's Milstein Center, which serves as the hub for academic life on campus. The department said anyone refusing to leave the building during the evacuation would be subject to arrest. 'Please stay away from the area,' the police said in its post. See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. The department said later that officers were still on the scene and that arrests had been made. But it was still unclear how many were in custody and what charges they faced. Videos shared widely on social media showed protesters inside the building earlier Wednesday afternoon chanting, playing drums and hanging Palestinian flags on walls. Most wore kaffiyeh scarves and other coverings obscuring their faces. Videos from Wednesday evening showed police entering the building wearing helmets and carrying zip ties and then later clearing the protesters and others from the lawn outside the building. College spokespersons and a student group that had coordinated the protest didn't immediately respond to emails seeking comment. Barnard President Laura Rosenbury denounced the protest earlier Wednesday. 'Our academic mission is at the heart of what we do, and disruptions to that mission are an affront to the purpose of higher education and cannot be tolerated,' she wrote in a message sent to the campus community. 'We must not allow the actions of a few interfere with our mission. Campus activities outside of Milstein and throughout the rest of the campus are proceeding as normal.' The group Columbia Students for Justice in Palestine said on X that students launched their sit-in at 1 p.m. Wednesday in the Milstein library lobby in response to the expulsions of student protesters and other recent actions taken by school officials. 'Despite Barnard militarizing campus and inviting NYPD to patrol our academic buildings, we have successfully relaunched our sit-in against the expulsions,' the student group said on Instagram as they called for school officials to reinstate the expelled students. Last week, pro-Palestinian protesters wearing keffiyeh scarves and masks pushed their way into the college's Milbank Hall, which houses the offices of the dean, and assaulted a school employee, according to school officials. Protest organizers said they dispersed after the administration agreed to meet with them over their demands, which included amnesty for all students disciplined for pro-Palestinian action.
Yahoo
05-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Pro-Palestinian protesters take over Barnard College library in demonstration over student expulsions
NEW YORK — Dozens of pro-Palestinian protesters took over the Barnard College library on Wednesday, escalating tensions with school administrators in the aftermath of another building occupation last week. The masked demonstrators filed into an unmarked side entrance of the Milstein Center around 1 p.m., according to videos posted by a pro-Palestinian organization not associated with Barnard or its affiliate, Columbia University, to demand the school reverse the expulsions of three classmates. After Barnard issued a warning demanding the group disperse, activists ripped the written notices to shreds, saying they intend to stay. It was the second time in a week that protesters seized a campus building and disrupted classes. 'We were left with no choice but to resume the sit-in because Barnard has shown they will sabotage negotiations unless we hold them accountable,' the protesters wrote on Substack. 'Until administrators concede to our demands, we in our hundreds will continue to disrupt their business as usual.' The three expelled students faced disciplinary action over their participation in either a class disruption this semester involving antisemitic flyers or last spring's occupation of Hamilton Hall. In an email to students and faculty a couple of hours into the disruption, Barnard President Laura Rosenbury said 'the actions of a few' must not be allowed to disrupt students' education. 'Our academic mission is at the heart of what we do, and disruptions to that mission are an affront to the purpose of higher education and cannot be tolerated,' wrote Rosenbury, adding that campus activities outside of Milstein were proceeding as usual. Inside the building lobby, protesters holding the Palestinian flag chanted through megaphones: 'We want justice, you say how? Un-expel our students now,' while others played drums and cymbals, videos show. Demonstrator held 'Wanted' signs of Rosenbury and student life dean Leslie Grinage for 'the wrongful expulsion of pro-Palestinian students.' Another activist jostled with a puppet whose name-tag identified it as Rosenbury, before hanging it outside the building by its neck. Protesters continued to call on the college president to disclose Barnard's investments in Israel. 'Puppet President Rosenbury, are the Zionist Donors pulling the strings?' Columbia University Apartheid Divest, a coalition of various student clubs, wrote on Instagram. Public safety agents blocked the entrance of Milstein shortly after the disruption began, according to Bwog, a student-run campus news website. About an hour in, administrators issued a notice to protesters as a final warning. 'We have offered you multiple opportunities to leave the building peacefully and without further escalation,' read the memo. 'If you do not comply with this request, we will take further action as necessary to clear the building.' As of late afternoon, the protesters still remained. In a brief phone call, Rosenbury offered a meeting with the Barnard administration, so long as students removed their masks. 'Our demand is to reinstate the expelled students because of how unjust this process has been, and we don't intend on leaving until that happens,' one of the participants responded, videos show. Columbia, which is under intense pressure to crackdown on protest activity amid threats to withhold funding from the federal government, released a statement separating itself from Barnard, though adding it was in touch with the affiliated college's leaders. 'The disruption of academic activities is not acceptable conduct,' it read. 'We are committed to supporting our Columbia student body and our campus community during this challenging time.' The U.S. Education Department, the Department of Health and Human Services and the General Services Administration are considering stop-work orders for at least $51.4 million of active contracts in Morningside Heights. _____
Yahoo
05-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Pro-Palestinian protesters storm Barnard College library in demonstration over student expulsions
NEW YORK — Dozens of pro-Palestinian protesters interrupted studies at the Barnard College library on Wednesday, escalating tensions with administrators in the aftermath of the brief takeover of a campus building. The masked disruptors filed into an unmarked side entrance as they entered the Milstein Center around 1 p.m., according to video posted by an independent protest group not associated with Barnard or its affiliate, Columbia University. It was unclear if they were planning to remain in the building, though the school has issued a warning demanding they leave. On social media, Columbia University Apartheid Divest, a coalition of student groups, demanded the immediate reversal of three Barnard students' expulsions. Barnard spokespeople did not immediately return a request for comment. Inside the building lobby, protesters holding the Palestinian flag chanted through megaphones: 'We want justice, you say how? Un-expel our students now,' while others played drums and cymbals. One demonstrator jostled with a puppet whose name-tag identified it as Barnard President Laura Rosenbury. Another held a 'Wanted' sign of student life dean Leslie Grinage for 'the wrongful expulsion of pro-Palestinian students. Public safety quickly blocked the entrance of Milstein, according to Bwog, a student-run campus news website. An hour in, administrators issued a notice to protesters as a final warning. 'We have offered you multiple opportunities to leave the building peacefully and without further escalation,' read the memo. 'If you do not comply with this request, we will take further action as necessary to clear the building.'
Yahoo
03-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Barnard College student expelled for role in Columbia Hamilton Hall takeover over Gaza
NEW YORK — Ten months after pro-Palestinian demonstrators occupied Hamilton Hall at Columbia University, a student at its sister school, Barnard College, has been expelled, the campus protest group Columbia University Apartheid Divest announced Monday. Another student was suspended. Barnard administrators reportedly told the individual they were removed from the rosters late last week. That followed the expulsions of two other Barnard students for the recent disruption of an Israeli history class, prompting dozens of demonstrators to briefly occupy a separate building last week. Barnard would not confirm any disciplinary actions, citing federal law. A college spokeswoman directed the Daily News to last week's statement after two students were expelled for the class disruption, where protesters handed out flyers of a boot stomping on the Star of David, a Jewish symbol. 'When rules are broken, when there is no remorse, no reflection, and no willingness to change, we must act. Expulsion is always an extraordinary measure, but so too is our commitment to respect, inclusion, and the integrity of the academic experience,' read the statement from Barnard President Laura Rosenbury. Columbia University Apartheid Divest ascribed the crackdown to outside pressure. Last Thursday, President Donald Trump's Justice Department announced a task force would visit ten college campuses — including Columbia and New York University — to investigate allegations of antisemitism. A day later, the student learned of their expulsion. 'Rather than engage with students or divest [from Israel], Barnard has rushed to satisfy the U.S. Department of Justice by sanctioning and expelling students,' the group wrote in a press release. The other student inside Hamilton Hall was suspended for nearly two years, Columbia University Apartheid Divest said. Friday's expulsion appears to be the first for the occupation of Hamilton Hall, according to Columbia University Apartheid Divest, which has been tracking disciplinary action for campus protest activity. While the precise number of Barnard students who participated in the takeover is not publicly known, there were six students from schools affiliated with Columbia, such as Barnard and the Union Theological Seminary. Neither Columbia nor the student protest group has announced any expulsions on the main university campus. Columbia became the epicenter for pro-Palestinian protests last spring when an encampment in support of Gaza launched copycat tent cities on American college campuses. The demonstration came to a head in late April as protesters took Hamilton Hall, damaging property and trapping custodians inside. One officer accidentally discharged a gun, the NYPD said; students documented injuries among nine of the dozens of protesters arrested inside the building. Most charges were dropped against the demonstrators. On Columbia's campus, the vast majority of students involved were able to enroll in classes this year while waiting for their disciplinary hearings, which were expected to begin in late January. Barnard, a separate institution from Columbia, has its own disciplinary procedures. Last month, Columbia University Apartheid Divest said 46 Barnard students had been suspended for pro-Palestinian activism over the last couple of school years. It was not clear on Monday how the protesters planned to respond. Last week, after the two students were expelled, dozens of demonstrators took over Milbank Hall — where the dean's office was located — for several hours, cancelling classes in the building and hospitalizing a security guard. Bipartisan elected officials, from U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson to Mayor Eric Adams, have condemned the building takeover. 'I know the conflict in the Middle East has left many of us grieving and angry, and while New Yorkers have every right to express their sorrow, that heartbreak does not give anyone the right to harass or threaten others, to physically harm anyone, or to trespass on private property,' Adams said in a statement late Thursday. 'We must always ensure the safety of all students and staff on our college campuses.'
