Political activism flourishes at Columbia University

Apr 26, 2024 Letters

Dear Editor,

Columbia University has a long history of allowing student protests and has always shown itself to be responsible. While attending the University, we had protested against University actions via peaceful means. Ben Jealous who eventually became the head of the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People), the main civil rights organization in the USA, had co-led a protest when I had first started attending the University.

We had blocked off Broadway and even prevented entry to the main administrative building. There was also a protest in my senior year where students fasted to have their concerns addressed. The University immediately took steps to ensure those fasting were being kept safe from seriously harming their health. There were even times when the Nation of Islam was brought on campus, which sparked outrage and conflict between Jewish, African American and Muslim students. All of these situations were dealt with effectively by the University and without any detrimental harm coming to the students. In those cases, the University did their best to prevent the situation from escalating.

> What appears to be different in the current pro-Palestinian protest at the University is the mounting number of non-University actors that are participating in the protest. Prior to the protest erupting on campus, there was a pro Hamas speech given. A sign was also seen at the protest calling on a terrorist organization linked to Palestine to take action against the University. Taking the non-violent nature of the protest into a very risky stage where violence and harm to those attending the university was possible. Something which other protests at the University always avoided. The current emotionally charged atmosphere around the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians makes the security risk to the University very substantial. Thus, the current actions to wind down the protests to regain control and safety at the University. Just recently, a student from Europe was killed while returning to campus from playing football. The location and design of the campus lends itself to security risks that can result in dangerous non-university actors gaining access to the campus. Columbia has no choice but to take the initiative and reduce the safety risks to keep everyone in a safe environment.

> I am sure the spirit of academia, free speech and political activism will continue to strive at this great institution which has birthed founding fathers of the USA, 34 presidents and prime ministers and 87 Nobel laureates. A great source of leaders for the free world. My Alma Mater does not shy away from rigorous intellectual debate, nor does it suppress political activism. The safety of students and faculty has always been a priority and will always be a priority at Columbia University. “In Lumine Tuo Videbimus Lumen”, in thy light shall we see light.

Sincerely,

Mr. Jamil Changlee

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