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Pro-Hamas protests have recently reignited at Barnard College, prompting student calls for decisive actions from college administrators. The tensions on campus reflect a growing concern over safety and academic disruption amidst the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict.
Shoshana Aufzien, a freshman at Barnard, openly criticized the college’s response to the protest, describing the administration’s actions as lackluster and devoid of urgency. Aufzien remarked, “The university condemned the incident, but I found their words a bit insufficient. I am not looking for mere statements; I want tangible action from the school leadership.”
The protest took a chaotic turn following the expulsion of multiple students who had been involved in distributing anti-Israel materials and disrupting an Israeli history class the previous month. Protesters stormed a campus building, amplifying tensions in a situation that is part of the larger narrative of campus activism regarding the Israel-Palestine issue.
On reflecting about the protest, Aufzien admitted to being caught off guard by the scale of the demonstration. “I had no idea that there would be a protest that day,” she noted. As she entered the building and saw a large ‘Free Palestine’ banner displayed prominently, she initially assumed it was a peaceful sit-in. The escalation to violence took her by surprise.
The protest featured a small group of individuals, many obscured by masks and traditional Middle Eastern keffiyehs, who occupied the building, effectively barring entry to students and staff. Reports indicated that one employee was hospitalized following a physical assault during the incident.
Accusations flew from the protesters, claiming that Barnard staff had engaged in harassment and pushed students. College administration sought to negotiate with the demonstrators, though talks faltered when they required the protesters to relinquish their face coverings as a precondition for further discussions.
Frustrated by the administration’s approach, Aufzien stated, “Barnard spent hours negotiating with the protesters. The administration’s terms should have been simple: disperse immediately and show identification, or we will call law enforcement. My disappointment is significant because it seemed like the school gave the protesters a free pass to escape accountability.”
This demonstration is the latest in a series of protests occurring nationwide in response to the recent surge in violence between Israel and Hamas. In the previous year, Columbia University, which oversees Barnard, struggled to dismantle a pro-Palestine encampment on its campus. The situation escalated to the mass arrest of more than 100 students and ultimately led to the resignation of Columbia’s president.
Aufzien highlighted the potential for the situation to spiral further if the school fails to implement serious consequences for disruptive actions. She expressed her frustration, saying, “I just want to attend my classes, especially with midterms approaching. My family is investing $95,000 a year for my education, and I currently cannot access it. This is highly disappointing.”
She underscored the gravity of the protesters’ actions, which included serious accusations of taking a dean hostage, denying her access to basic needs, and obstructing students from pursuing their education. Aufzien insisted that such actions warrant not just passive condemnation but the impetus for real change at the institution.
In response to the protest and the surrounding controversy, Columbia University released a statement distancing itself from Barnard College. The statement highlighted that any disruption of academic operations is unacceptable violation of college policies.
The campus community awaits further measures from the administration, as students like Aufzien continue to voice their concerns about safety and the educational environment at Barnard. As protests across the nation evolve, the students and the administration must navigate these challenging dialogues to ensure the integrity of academic spaces while respecting the right to free expression.
