Columbia protest faces 2 p.m. deadline; faculty members 'stand' with students: Live updates

NEW YORK − Columbia University ordered pro-Palestinian protesters to disband their encampment Monday after school representatives and student organizers failed to negotiate a resolution of the standoff that began almost two weeks ago and fueled similar protests on campuses across the nation.

“A small group of academic leaders has been in constructive dialogue with student organizers to find a path that would result in the dismantling of the encampment," school President Minouche Shafik said in a statement Monday. "Regretfully, we were not able to come to an agreement.”

The school issued a notice to the protesters asking them to "please promptly gather your belongings and leave the encampment" by 2 p.m. If they identify themselves to a university official and sign a statement agreeing to abide by all university policies, they will be eligible to complete the semester "in good standing and will not be placed on suspension."

Jon Ben-Menachem, one of the main student organizers, said on Twitter that members of the Gaza Solidarity Encampment face "mass evictions and interim suspensions" if they don't leave. The Columbia Students for Justice in Palestine tweeted: "Do not sign anything with administration. Show up at NOON to protect the encampment!"

"We will not move until Columbia meets our demands or we are moved by force," the group said in a news release. "We stress that, during a genocide, business cannot continue as usual."

Shafik said the university offered to convene a faculty committee to address academic freedom, create an expedited timeline for reviewing socially responsible investing and to invest in health and education in Gaza. But she also said "external actors" had contributed to creating a hostile environment that drove some Jewish students and some other students to leave campus.

She said the school will not divest from Israeli companies and will hold its graduation ceremony, scheduled for May 15.

Columbia protesters demand the school halt investments with companies profiting from Israel's war against Hamas in Gaza, and they want amnesty for students and faculty involved in the protest. College campus demonstrations have ramped up in opposition to the civilian toll in Gaza, where more than 34,000 people have died since the Israeli invasion that followed a Hamas-led attack that killed almost 1,200 people in Israel.

Developments:

∎ Protesters took down barriers and expanded a pro-Palestinian encampment at George Washington University in Washington, D.C., less than a mile from the White House. The protest stretched into its fifth day Monday, the last day of spring semester classes. Among signs: "Bothered by the encampment? Look away like you do for genocide."

∎ U.S. schools are not alone in protesting the war in Gaza. Demonstrators took to Paris' Sorbonne University on Monday, chanting "Free Palestine" at the university's gates while some students set up tents in the courtyard.

∎ Video from the Shaboura refugee camp in the southern Gaza city of Rafah shows signs in support of the campus protests, CNN reports. Some read: "Students of Columbia University, continue to stand by us” and “Thank you, students in solidarity with Gaza. Your message has reached (us).”

Demonstrators breach barriers at UCLA:Campus protests multiply

Columbia students, faculty rally ahead of deadline to clear space

Student protesters at Columbia gathered at the center of the encampment for a rally ahead of the university’s 2 p.m. ET Monday deadline for students to clear the encampment or face suspension. “No business as usual,” demonstrators chanted. “There is only one solution!” and “Intifada revolution!” Some of the students reportedly voted to ignore the deadline and stay at the encampment.

“We will not move until Columbia meets our demands or we are moved by force,” a news release from the students said.

They were not alone. Faculty members, donning orange safety vests, joined students in rallying near the encampment. “We salute you, we stand with you,” Shana Redmond, a professor of English and comparative literature, told the crowd from a megaphone. “And we’re so proud to be your professors.”

Just outside the shuttered campus gates, demonstrators showed their support as well. Echoes from the protest could also be heard from other parts inside the Ivy League school.

Two speakers withdraw from USC graduation programs

Author Pam Zhang and educator Safiya Noble have withdrawn as keynote speakers at the University of Southern California's Rossier’s doctoral and master’s commencement ceremonies. In an open letter to the school, Zhang and Noble criticized USC for failing to conduct good-faith talks with student protesters and for bringing armed LAPD officers onto campus to break up a pro-Palestinian encampment.

The duo also lashed out at USC for canceling a commencement speech by valedictorian Asna Tabassum after pro-Israel groups objected to Tabassum's support for Palestinians on social media. USC later canceled its primary undergraduate commencement, but some satellite ceremonies are taking place.

“To speak at USC in this moment would betray not only our own values, but USC’s too … We cannot overlook the link between recent developments and the ongoing genocide in Palestine.”

Police break up 3-day protest at Virginia Tech

Blankets, trash and anti-war placards were all that remained Monday at a pro-Palestinian encampment at Virginia Tech, hours after school officials cited an "increasing potential to become unsafe" and called in police to disband the three-day protest. The school, 260 miles southwest of Washington, D.C., becomes the latest in a growing line of universities to take police action to curb protests of Israel's war in Gaza.

"Through constant dialogue between university officials, the Virginia Tech Police Department and protest organizers, we were able to maintain a safe and peaceful environment through much of the weekend," the school said in a statement, adding that the protest continued to grow. "Given these actions by protesters, the university recognized that the situation had the increasing potential to become unsafe."

The protesters were told to disperse voluntarily and warned that those who remained would be charged with trespassing, the statement said.

"I transferred to Virginia Tech, hoping to find a (supportive) environment, which I did, but unfortunately it has disappointed me over and over and over again," Palestinian student Fatima Hasan told WSET-TV.

Virginia Tech police referred USA TODAY to a school spokesperson who did not immediately respond to a request for information on the number of arrests and other details of the police action.

Pro-Palestinian protestersurge universities to divest from Israel. What does that mean?

What are college protests across the US about?

The protesters opposed to Israel's military attacks in Gaza say they want their schools to stop funneling endowment money to Israeli companies and other businesses, like weapons manufacturers, that profit from the war in Gaza. In addition to divestment, protesters are calling for a cease-fire, and student governments at some colleges have also passed resolutions in recent weeks calling for an end to academic partnerships with Israel. The protesters also want the U.S. to stop supplying funding and weapons to the war effort.

More recently, amnesty for students and professors involved in the protests has become an issue. Protesters want protections amid threats of disciplinary action and termination for those participating in demonstrations that violate campus policy or local laws.

− Claire Thornton

Contributing: Reuters