NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) – Columbia University switched to all-remote classes on Monday, and dozens of protesters were arrested at Yale University in Connecticut, as intensifying protests have led to increased concerns over antisemitic rhetoric on college campuses in New York and beyond.
In a statement early Monday, Columbia's president, Minouche Shafik, wrote: "To deescalate the rancor and give us all a chance to consider next steps, I am announcing that all classes will be held virtually on Monday."
"During the coming days, a working group of Deans, university administrators and faculty members will try to bring this crisis to a resolution," said Shafik's message, which came on the eve of Passover, which begins Monday night.
Addressing a question about the safety of Jewish students as Passover begins, NYPD Deputy Commissioner of Public Information Tarik Sheppard told reporters at a morning news conference that there have been no credible threats to "to any particular group or individual coming from this protest or any other."
However, Jewish students headed to events off campus, such as Passover Seder, are advised to use "our safe corridor pathways," NYPD Deputy Commissioner of Operations Kaz Daughtry said outside the Morningside Heights campus.
"We told school officials where our officers will be stationed," Daughtry said.
The department has been patrolling the area around the school, but not inside the campus, as it is private property and the university generally "does not want NYPD present on campus," said NYPD Deputy Commissioner of Legal Matters Michael Gerber. Columbia University Public Safety is patrolling the campus itself.
Gerber said police will respond to any immediate threats to individuals on campus, as they would anywhere. He acknowledged that the line between protected First Amendment speech and threatening behavior can be "very context specific, can require a lot of nuance [...] and we have to make calls on a daily basis."
Shai Davidai, an assistant professor at the Columbia Business School who is an outspoken supporter of Israel, wrote on X that he had been denied entry to the campus Monday because Columbia "cannot protect my safety as a Jewish professor."
Meanwhile, Gov. Kathy Hochul said she had convened a meeting between Columbia University leaders, City Hall and the NYPD to "discuss the need to fight antisemitism and protect public safety." " The recent harassment and rhetoric is vile and abhorrent. Every student deserves to be safe," the governor wrote on X.
U.S. Reps. Dan Goldman, Josh Gottheimer and Jared Moskowitz were holding a rally with Jewish students at Columbia/Barnard Hillel to push back against antisemitism. Goldman said on X that the situation at the school is "unacceptable." " While everyone has a 1st Amendment right to protest, students do not have a right to threaten violence and cause fear within the Jewish community on campus," he wrote.
The gates of the university remained closed to anyone without a student ID on Monday, as dozens of protesters remained on the campus. Protests and encampments have also popped up at other colleges in the city since last week, including at the New School and at New York University.
Protests have been ongoing for months at Columbia over the mounting civilian death toll in Israel's military operation against Hamas in Gaza. Jewish students have repeatedly expressed concerns and even fear for their safety.
The demonstrations have grown in intensity in recent days as pro-Palestinian encampments were erected on the main lawn, and after Shafik testified at a congressional hearing on antisemitism at the Ivy League school.
Last Thursday, more than 100 demonstrators were arrested for trespassing after they refused to leave the makeshift encampments. Columbia students who took part were suspended from the school.
Despite the arrests, the protests returned over the weekend, leading to more arrests. The demonstrations have inspired similar protests at other schools, including Yale University in New Haven, where 40 to 50 protesters were arrested on trespassing charges Monday, according to police.
The protests have drawn national attention—multiple members of Congress have decried antisemitism, and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff wrote on X that "colleges and universities, along with their leadership, must do better."
Mayor Eric Adams released a statement Sunday, saying in part, "I am horrified and disgusted with the antisemitism being spewed at and around the Columbia University campus." But the mayor said the NYPD can't stay on campus unless the school requests it, as it's a private institution.
On Friday, the Columbia Jewish Alumni Association wrote a letter to Shafik, urging her to "take all possible steps to protect student safety." And a prominent rabbi at the school, Elie Buechler, warned Jewish students to "return home as soon as possible and remain home until the reality in and around campus has dramatically improved."