Columbia University in New York has set a deadline for administrators and anti-Israel protesters to reach an agreement to end the encampment on campus. University President Minouche Shafik initially set a deadline of midnight for an agreement with student organizers that must include dismantling the encampment, dispersing, and following university policies going forward.
Shafik stated that if discussions are unsuccessful, administrators would have to consider alternative options for clearing the West Lawn and restoring calm to campus so that students can complete the term and graduate. The university has already transitioned to hybrid learning for the remainder of the semester due to safety concerns sparked by the protest.
As the midnight deadline approached, a student demonstrator announced on the university's South Lawn that administrators had extended the negotiation deadline to 8 a.m. University officials and protest organizers were reported to be hashing out four main agreements, including students removing a significant number of tents, ensuring that protesters are only Columbia students, complying with FDNY safety implications, and prohibiting discriminatory or harassing language within the encampment.
Demonstrators expressed their refusal to continue negotiations with the administration without a written commitment that the administration will not involve the New York City Police Department or the National Guard in handling the protests. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has stated that she has no plans to call in the National Guard to respond to the protests.
During the negotiations, the NYPD had its riot police and counterterrorism unit on standby overnight. Police advised demonstrators to limit the use of amplified noisemakers and refrain from beating against barricades to avoid arrest.
Prior to the initial midnight deadline, demonstrators began dismantling tents on the west side of the South Lawn. Some protesters relocated to Furnald Lawn while others remained on the west side of the South Lawn. Shortly after midnight, demonstrators started moving the tents back to the west side of the South Lawn.
