2 weeks ago
Columbia University's embattled President Minouche Shafik connected Friday called nan past 2 weeks "among nan astir difficult successful Columbia's history," arsenic anti-Israel protests proceed to rage connected nan New York City campus.
Shafik, speaking publically for nan first clip astir nan long-running demonstrations that person taken complete nan field since constabulary cleared an occupied field building successful a video connection posted to nan university’s societal media, said nan "turmoil, tension, section and disruption person impacted nan full community."
She noted that nan students person "paid an particularly precocious price" by losing retired connected nan last days of nan twelvemonth successful classrooms and residence halls — "For those of you who are seniors, you’re finishing assemblage nan aforesaid measurement you started: online."
She continued, "No matter wherever you guidelines connected immoderate issue, Columbia should beryllium a organization that feels welcoming and safe for everyone."
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Columbia University president Minouche Shafik said astir nan "difficult" past 2 weeks successful a video reside connected Thursday. (Fox News Digital)
Shafik’s reside came days aft constabulary raided nan university’s Hamilton Hall management building aft it was illegally occupied by protesters.
"We tried very difficult to resoluteness nan rumor of nan encampment done dialogue," she said. "Many of nan group who gathered location were mostly serene and cared profoundly astir nan humanitarian situation successful Gaza."
The president said that nan assemblage made a "sincere and bully offer, but it was not accepted," on pinch world leaders talking pinch nan protesters for 8 days and nights.
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She said that a group of protesters "crossed a caller line" pinch nan business of Hamilton Hall past that was a "violent enactment that put our students astatine consequence arsenic good arsenic putting nan protesters astatine risk."
Seeing nan harm nan rioters caused arsenic she walked done nan building that holds classics, Germanic and Slavic connection classes, was "distressing," she said.
"But, contempt each that has happened, I person confidence. During nan listening sessions I held pinch galore students successful caller months, I’ve been heartened by your intelligence, thoughtfulness and kindness."
She said she was astir impressed by those were capable to admit those opposing them had "some valid points. We request much of that astatine Columbia," noting that "parallel realities and parallel conversations person walled america disconnected from different perspectives."
An anti-Israel protester holds a Palestinian emblem extracurricular nan entranceway to Hamilton Hall connected nan field of Columbia University, April 30, successful New York City. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer/Pool)
Shafik was calved successful Egypt and grew up successful a Muslim family, noting successful her reside Friday that she had "many Jewish and Christian friends" increasing up. "I spent 2 decades moving pinch world organizations pinch group from each nationality and belief successful nan world, wherever if you can’t span divides and spot nan different side’s constituent of view, you can’t get thing done."
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict, antisemitism and Islamophobia person each existed for a agelong time," she noted, adding that Columbia "cannot lick them single-handedly."
But she said Columbia could beryllium an illustration to nan world of civilian sermon and having "empathy and compassion for 1 another."
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"We person a batch to do, but I americium committed to moving astatine it each time and pinch each of you to rebuild organization connected our campus," she closed.
Shafik has faced calls to resign and connected Thursday, a Columbia module group called for a ballot of nary assurance against Shafik.
Fox News Digital's Louis Casiano contributed to this report.
