Rep. Ilhan Omar’s daughter recently revealed that she was essentially forced to leave Columbia University’s Barnard College. The reason behind her departure was her suspension, which was a consequence of her involvement in pro-Palestinian demonstrations held on campus.
Hundreds of students have taken over Columbia’s campus for several days, expressing their dissatisfaction with the Biden administration’s handling of the Israel-Hamas war. They are advocating for an immediate cease-fire in the conflict and calling on Congress to halt the provision of military aid to Israel.
Isra Hirsi, a 21-year-old student, found herself in a predicament when she was arrested, along with over 100 other students, for participating in the protests on campus. The university leadership deemed their actions as trespassing and charged them accordingly. However, instead of quelling the demonstrations, the arrests only served to fuel the fire. Unfortunately, the consequences for Isra did not end there. She was one of three students suspended from Barnard, which not only deprived her of her education but also cut off her access to basic necessities like food and housing.
During a recent interview with Teen Vogue, Hirsi shared the moment she received notice of her suspension.
“We immediately informed the camp about the situation. Since there was a large number of Barnard students at the camp, we announced that we had been unjustly evicted and denied access to our designated space. Unfortunately, we were also officially suspended,” she explained.
Shortly after the suspensions were implemented, authorities took swift action and arrested a total of 113 students. These students were then transported to a nearby police station via bus.
Hirsi recounted how she had been subjected to a grueling seven-hour ordeal, being restrained with zip ties, before eventually being charged with trespassing and subsequently released. However, amidst the legal turmoil, her primary concern was finding a place to spend the night.
“When I arrived at 1 Police Plaza, my roommates kindly brought me a bag of clothes, aware that I was facing possible eviction,” she shared. “As we were checking our emails, we discovered that we had only 15 minutes to retrieve our belongings, and we were required to be accompanied by a public safety escort.”
“I said to myself, ‘I refuse to do that.’ However, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of panic, wondering where I would sleep and where I could go,” she shared. “On top of that, all of my belongings were scattered in a random location. It’s truly a terrible situation.”
According to Hirsi, she is currently unable to access the campus due to her suspension, which she believes is a penalty exclusively imposed on Barnard students.
“I have no idea when I’ll be able to go back home, or if I ever will,” she expressed with uncertainty. “No official eviction notice has been served to me, nor have I received any instructions to move out. They simply informed me that I can’t enter, although I’m not quite sure what that entails.”
“I only have four shirts and two pairs of pants,” she exclaimed. “It’s absolutely insane that only Barnard students are being evicted.”
A few days after the suspension, the issue of food also became a cause for concern.
“I can’t go to the dining hall. I reached out to them through email, explaining that my meals and dining plan are essential to me. Their response was disappointing. They suggested that I pick up a prepackaged bag of food, but it took them a whole 48 hours after my suspension to offer this solution. There was no proper food support or assistance provided.”
“The Columbia students still have access to a dining hall and their homes,” she emphasized. “Although they are restricted from going elsewhere, they do have the option to return home and dine in one specific hall.”
According to Hirsi, Barnard has chosen to adopt a “very extreme position” in response to the protesting students, which sets it apart from the university’s overall stance.
In a statement to The Hill, Barnard defended its decision to suspend Hirsi and other students.
The school emphasizes its responsibility in maintaining a safe and inclusive community where everyone feels protected from harassment and discrimination. They acknowledge the importance of allowing individuals to freely express their opinions while upholding policies that prioritize the well-being of all members. The school is dedicated to consistently and respectfully enforcing these policies.
According to the statement, Barnard College ensures that students who are on interim suspension no longer have access to most buildings on campus. However, they still have access to essential College services, such as healthcare, mental health counseling, and academic support. In response to Hirsi’s concerns, the Dean of the College has also made food available to these students and is assisting them in finding alternative housing arrangements, if necessary.
Campus protests inspired by Columbia students have been taking place at various universities across the country, including New York University, Yale University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Miami University of Ohio. These demonstrations have garnered attention despite facing opposition from political leaders from different parties.
The Biden administration strongly condemned the protests on Sunday, labeling them as “blatantly antisemitic” and alleging that they are fueling “calls for violence.”
Many of the students participating in the protests are Jewish, and these protest groups have strongly refuted any claims that their demonstrations are rooted in antisemitism.
Protest leaders expressed their frustration with media distractions that tend to focus on inflammatory individuals who do not truly represent their cause. In a statement released on Sunday, they emphasized that their members have been wrongly identified by a politically motivated mob.
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