Protesting Students At Columbia University: A Large Number?

Columbia University has a long history of student protests, dating back to the 1960s. In April 1968, over 700 students occupied five buildings on campus, protesting the US government's involvement in the Vietnam War and the university's plans to build a segregated gym. This led to over 700 arrests and disciplinary action against the students. In more recent times, Columbia students have protested against various issues, including the university's investment in South Africa-related companies in the 1980s and its failure to address racial tensions on campus in 1987. In 2024, pro-Palestinian students demanded that Columbia divest from companies tied to Israel, leading to arrests and sparking similar demonstrations worldwide. While some view these protests as a brave stand for justice, others criticise them as disruptive and anti-American.

Pro-Palestine protests in 2024

The protests began in 2023 and escalated in April 2024, with the first encampment at Columbia University being established in mid-April. This protest was met with mass arrests, with the university president authorising the New York City Police Department to enter the campus and conduct arrests. A new encampment was built the next day, but this was also met with resistance from the university, with over 100 protesters arrested in a second NYPD raid.

The protests have been met with a strong response from authorities, with police departments employing tactics such as dispersing crowds with horses and riot gear, deploying pepper balls, using tasers, conducting mass arrests, and tear gassing protesters. There have also been reports of violence and incitement against protesters, with one protester at Columbia hospitalised after a counter-protester rammed their car into a group of picketers.

Despite this, the protests have garnered support from various groups, with over 200 organisations expressing their backing. U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders has also shown his support, and an Axios poll from May 2024 found that 8% of college students have participated in the protests.

The protests have been compared to the anti-Vietnam and 1968 protests, with some commentators drawing parallels between the two. However, some scholars consider the current protests to be starkly different, particularly in the way they have created a feeling of insecurity for a large portion of the population.

The protests have also sparked debates around free speech and academic freedom, with some arguing that universities have been too quick to crack down on protests and restrict students' rights to assemble and express themselves. There have also been concerns raised about the presence of outside groups and potential infiltration by far-right agitators and white nationalists.

Overall, the pro-Palestine protests of 2024 have been a significant movement, with a large impact on universities worldwide and a ongoing discussion around the issues of free speech and academic freedom.

Protests against US involvement in the Vietnam War in 1968

In 1968, the anti-war movement in the United States was gaining momentum, with a growing number of Americans opposed to their country's involvement in the Vietnam War. This opposition manifested in various forms, from peaceful protests and teach-ins to draft card burnings and building occupations. One of the pivotal moments in the movement occurred at Columbia University, where students played a significant role in shaping the trajectory of the anti-war efforts.

The Build-Up to the 1968 Protests

By 1968, opposition to the Vietnam War had been building for several years, with demonstrations against US involvement dating back to 1965. The movement was driven by a diverse range of individuals and groups, including students, mothers, anti-establishment youth, civil rights activists, feminists, and labour organizations. The draft, which disproportionately affected minorities and lower- and middle-class whites, was a significant source of discontent.

The Spark at Columbia University

On April 24, 1968, a sit-in began in Hamilton Hall at Columbia University, catalysing the occupation of four other buildings on campus. More than 700 students participated in the protest, which was fuelled by opposition to the US government's involvement in the Vietnam War, as well as demands related to the civil rights movement and local issues. The students occupied five buildings and held the acting dean of Columbia College, Henry Coleman, hostage for over 24 hours.

The Impact of the Columbia University Protests

The Columbia University protests sent shockwaves through the country and had a significant impact on the anti-war movement. Over 700 students were arrested, and 73 were initially suspended, although most were later reinstated. The acting president of the university, Andrew W. Cordier, pleaded for "maximum leniency" for the arrested students.

The events at Columbia University were a turning point, bringing the anti-war movement to the forefront of national attention and galvanising opposition to the Vietnam War. They also highlighted the role of students as a driving force behind the movement, with campuses across the country becoming centres of agitation. The protests at Columbia University set a precedent for similar actions at other educational institutions, demonstrating the power of student activism in challenging the status quo.

The Legacy of the 1968 Protests

The anti-war protests of 1968, with Columbia University at their epicentre, represented a pivotal moment in US history. They not only contributed to the eventual end of US involvement in Vietnam but also empowered a generation to question authority and demand social change. The protests left an indelible mark on the country's consciousness, shaping political and social discourse for decades to come.

Protests against segregated gymnasium construction in 1968

In 1968, Columbia University in New York City was the site of one of the many student demonstrations that occurred globally that year. The Columbia protests were sparked by the university's links to the US government's involvement in the Vietnam War and its plans to construct a segregated gymnasium in nearby Morningside Park.

The Protest Against the Segregated Gymnasium

The plan for the gymnasium in Morningside Park was first proposed in 1965 during the mayoral campaign of John Lindsay, who opposed the project. By 1967, community opposition had become more militant. The proposed design included an upper level for Columbia students and a lower level to be used as a community centre. However, the separate entrances were seen as an attempt to circumvent the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which banned racially segregated facilities. Harlem activists opposed the construction as it was on public land, and despite being a park, Harlem residents would have limited access to the facility. The project was derisively labelled "Gym Crow" by some.

The Student Protest

On April 23, 1968, protesters gathered at the centre of the Columbia University campus for a rally. They then rushed into Hamilton Hall, home to administrative offices and classrooms. The protesters included members of the Student Afro-American Society (SAS) and the Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), an anti-war group.

Word of the occupation spread, but inside Hamilton Hall, tension was building between the black SAS students and the majority-white SDS. The SDS wanted to take an administrator hostage to draw attention to their anti-war work, while the SAS wanted to focus on stopping the construction of the gym. The black students knew that the university would be reluctant to use force against a group of black students, especially in light of the recent assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. and the resulting riots in Harlem. The African-American students also felt that the white students could not understand the protest of the gymnasium as deeply, as its architectural plans were developed in a segregationist fashion.

The black students asked the white students to leave Hamilton Hall, and the two groups separated, with the SDS occupying Low Library, which housed the President's office. Over the next few days, nearly 1,000 protesters occupied five university buildings. The protests ended in the early morning of April 30, 1968, when the NYPD violently quashed the demonstrations, using tear gas, and stormed Hamilton Hall and Low Library. Over 700 protesters were arrested, and more than 100 students were injured.

The protests achieved their goal of stopping the construction of the segregated gymnasium, and Columbia University eventually scrapped the plans. The protests also led to increased student power on campus and the creation of a Black Studies program.

Protests against fossil fuel investments in 2019

Columbia University has a long history of student protests, with records dating back to the 20th century. In the spring of 2019, Columbia University witnessed a protest against fossil fuel investments, where more than a dozen students occupied the President's office in Low Library. The students demanded that the university divest from fossil fuels and stop investing in oil and gas companies.

The protest in 2019 was not an isolated incident. Students at Columbia University have a history of advocating for social and environmental causes. For example, in 1968, over 700 students occupied five buildings on campus, including Hamilton Hall, to protest the U.S. government's involvement in the Vietnam War and other civil rights issues. In 1985, about 300 students blockaded Hamilton Hall for three weeks, demanding that the university divest from its investments in South Africa-related companies.

The 2019 protest against fossil fuel investments was a significant event in the university's recent history. The students were represented by a group of law faculty members, and their actions led to consequences. As a result of the protest, the students were asked to write an essay and an apology letter to the custodial staff who had to work overtime due to the protest.

However, the protest did have a lasting impact on the university's investment policies. A year after the 2019 protest, Columbia University announced that it would no longer invest in oil or gas companies. This decision was formalized in a policy for the foreseeable future, demonstrating the university's recognition of the grave threat posed by climate change and its commitment to transparency in financial resource use.

Protests for an Ethnic Studies department in 1996

Columbia University has a long history of student protests, with records of student activism dating back to the 20th century. One notable instance of student protest at the university occurred in 1996 when students demanded the creation of an Ethnic Studies department. This protest was driven by a diverse coalition of Black, Asian, and Latino students who felt that the university's curriculum was not adequately representing their cultural perspectives.

The 1996 protests at Columbia University for an Ethnic Studies department were marked by strong and passionate demonstrations from the student body. About 100 students participated in occupying Hamilton Hall for four days, alongside a hunger strike. This was not an isolated incident, but rather the culmination of months of advocacy by students who felt that the university was not acting quickly enough to address their concerns.

The students' demands for an Ethnic Studies department reflected their desire for a more inclusive and representative curriculum that went beyond the traditional Western-oriented perspective. They believed that the university's curriculum was not keeping pace with the increasing diversity of its student body. The protest began with a tent pitched in the centre of the campus, where four students initiated a hunger strike. This hunger strike lasted for 13 days and involved the students refraining from eating.

The students' advocacy also included a sit-in at the office of the Columbia College dean, Austin E. Quigley, in February, demonstrating their commitment to their cause. However, the students felt that the university was not responding to their demands quickly enough, despite the various committees and discussions that had taken place. They believed that more urgent action was needed to address the lack of ethnic studies representation in the curriculum.

The protest in April 1996 was a direct response to the students' perception that their voices were not being heard and that the university was not taking their demands seriously enough. By occupying Hamilton Hall and engaging in a hunger strike, the students escalated their advocacy to a new level, making their discontent impossible to ignore. This protest reflected the students' passion and determination to see meaningful change at Columbia University.

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