Protests across the country have sparked at colleges and universities in response to the Israel-Hamas war.
Columbia University has been experiencing a continuous presence of student protesters on its campus since April 17. These pro-Palestinian demonstrators are demanding that the prestigious Ivy League institution divest financially from companies and institutions that they believe “benefit from Israeli apartheid, genocide, and occupation in Palestine,” as stated in an online statement by the organization Columbia University Apartheid Divest.
Columbia’s investment portfolio is not publicly disclosed and remains largely undisclosed.
After Columbia University President Minouche Shafik’s testimony on antisemitism on campus during a congressional hearing, the encampment garnered a greater number of demonstrators.
On April 18, the New York Police Department, with the approval of Shafik, cleared out over 100 protesters at Columbia University. This action resulted in the arrest of the demonstrators and the removal of an on-campus tent encampment.
Shafik expressed his concerns about the encampment in a statement released after the protests, stating that it goes against the new policies, disrupts campus life, and creates a hostile and intimidating atmosphere for many students.
According to Shafik, the actions of students and outside activists who break Hamilton Hall doors, mistreat Public Safety officers and maintenance staff, and damage property are acts of destruction rather than political speech. Furthermore, Shafik acknowledges that these disruptions and antisemitic comments made by certain individuals during the protests have made many students feel uncomfortable and unwelcome.
Maryam Alwan, a student at Columbia University, found herself in a precarious situation when she was apprehended by New York City police donning riot gear on April 18. Alongside fellow protestors, she endured nearly eight hours in police custody before being released. Despite being explicitly instructed not to, Alwan defiantly returned to the Columbia University campus later that day.
Despite being suspended, Alwan continued to stay on the Columbia University campus for the following eight days. Each night, she found a place to sleep at a different protestor encampment. She eventually left on April 26th but returned on April 30th, coinciding with the day when NYPD officers raided Hamilton Hall. During the raid, Alwan and a group of individuals were held in a separate building while the officers removed students and certain outsiders who had forcibly entered and barricaded themselves inside the academic building.
During an interview with “Start Here” on Thursday, Alwan shared his experience at Columbia University.
Maryam, can you share your experience on campus over the past few days?
Maryam Alwan described the situation as extremely tense, with the majority of the student body engaged in a fierce conflict with the administration. This tension reached its peak on Tuesday night.
On the 56th anniversary of the day when the administration arrested over 700 students protesting the Vietnam War and the gentrification of Harlem in 1968, I witnessed a scene where hundreds of police officers, in full riot gear, descended upon the campus for the second time in two weeks. They proceeded to arrest over 100 students.
I was among the 100 students who were arrested and suspended for participating in the encampment two weeks ago. However, what I witnessed on Tuesday night was deeply disturbing and far more brutal than my own experience. I genuinely have doubts about Columbia’s ability to bounce back from this ordeal.
Can you share with me if you were initially arrested along with the first group of protesters? After that, the school decided to halt the arrests and began suspending students who participated. Were you also one of those students who got suspended? Furthermore, did you return to the school on the night when the police raided the occupied building?
Maryam Alwan stated that she immediately returned to campus after being arrested. She chose to stay on campus for approximately seven to ten days without going home, even though she was suspended. She wanted to remain connected to the community. On Tuesday night, something significant occurred.
We wanted to make our way to the outskirts of campus to simply observe the events unfolding from a distance.
Even if you’re not supposed to be on campus, typically due to a suspension, is that correct?
Maryam Alwan stated that she should not have been on campus at any point within the past two weeks.
Ah, I understand.
Maryam Alwan was filled with adrenaline and made the bold decision to risk further disciplinary action in order to document the events unfolding before her. The police took aggressive action, pushing back everyone present, including journalists, observers, student press, official press, legal observers, and medics. They forcefully relocated them into a nearby building, opposite the one that was occupied.
We were locked inside, as if the administration and the police were working together to prevent anyone from witnessing what was about to occur.
When they started entering the hall, there was nobody present in front of it, and the students were recording from their dorms. It gives off the impression, the feeling that we have transformed into an authoritarian state. I am still struggling to fully comprehend what actually took place.
Last night, the university released a statement indicating that the protesters were not peaceful and that they caused significant damage to the building.
According to their statement, out of the 202 arrests made during the raid, only 109 were students. This observation indicates that the rationale behind the involvement of the police and the university extends beyond just a student protest. It suggests that the majority of those arrested were individuals from outside the university who entered the buildings with the intention of causing disruption.
Do you believe that is accurate, from your point of view? And do you endorse the occupation of those buildings?
Maryam Alwan disagrees with the statement that outside agitators were involved in the student movement. She believes that this narrative has been used in the past to undermine movements like Black Lives Matter. According to the reports, the majority of the students involved in the building occupation were actually fellow students and peers who took bold and unconventional actions to fight for justice.
I won’t claim that I support property damage or similar actions. However, on Tuesday night, it was the police who caused significantly more property damage and put lives at risk.
I believe the disconnect that many Americans are experiencing is due to the conflicting situations. For instance, there was an encampment, and the school wanted to hold a commencement ceremony. However, attempts were made to remove the people from the encampment, but they kept coming back.
Then students begin to take over buildings, which raises concerns for the college administration. They may regret not taking a more assertive approach earlier on, as now the school buildings themselves are being damaged. From the students’ perspective, it is unclear what their rationale is for escalating the situation in this manner.
Maryam Alwan agrees with the notion that when authorities consistently refuse to listen and violate their own procedures, it only fuels the fire of resistance. She points out that throughout history, student movements have experienced this pattern, where the more the authorities crack down and ignore their concerns, the more people rise up against them. This is because the excessive force and manipulation of loopholes by the authorities are seen as illegitimate from the start.
START HERE: What are your desired outcomes? Is it solely the demand for divestment that drives your stance of not leaving? If so, have you considered the potential consequences, such as police intervention, that may arise from this?
MARYAM ALWAN: Well, divestment is a topic that has gained a lot of attention recently.
I mean, if that’s the ultimatum you guys are presenting, then.
Maryam Alwan wanted to ask the administration if they would continue to bring the police and if people would continue to become horrified by their actions. She wanted them to realize the interconnectedness of all forms of oppression.
As a person of color, including my Jewish peers who are fighting alongside me, I can’t help but notice that when we are subjected to police intervention on campus, it only leads to more chaos and unrest. It’s important for the administration to reflect on this and consider why such actions are causing a pushback from the marginalized community.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams described the behavior of officers as professional and thorough, emphasizing that there have been no reported hospitalizations so far. Another issue arising from these protests is the concern of Jewish students who feel unsafe on campus. I am curious to know if there have been instances of harassment against Jewish American students, and if this is a concern for the organizers of these protests.
Even Columbia’s own website acknowledges the significance of the protests in 1968. It is evident that history will not judge favorably those who support the use of violence against students expressing their dissent through protests.
Hey, are you planning on returning to Columbia next year? With the academic year coming to a close, have you made a decision? Going to Columbia involves financial commitment. Are you prepared to invest in your education at Columbia for the upcoming year?
Maryam Alwan expressed her determination to complete her degree, despite the possibility of expulsion. She also shared her feelings of pride in being a part of the student body and faculty, despite her disappointment with the administration. Maryam highlighted the valuable lessons she learned from the faculty and scholars, and the collaboration she now experiences with them in advocating for human rights and other important causes. Such a level of involvement was beyond her imagination growing up.
I plan on returning so that together, we can create a new Columbia that is shaped by the voices of the students, faculty, and academia. It is crucial that we stand against the oppressive forces that are currently exerting control.
Yeah, until this moment, I hadn’t considered this perspective. It’s almost like a dilemma of whether to distance yourself from the school or to return as a student and continue advocating for these issues. Maryam Alwan still attends the school for now. I genuinely appreciate your time. Thank you so much.
MARYAM ALWAN: I really appreciate the opportunity to chat with you. It was a wonderful conversation.