The Permanace of Protest: Columbia University Campus Life Amid the Gaza Encampment

Thursday, June 27 2024

I recently had the privilege of attending the Columbia University Scholastic Press Association's summer journalism program and was able to interview students about the recent events regarding the encampment on campus and being in the national spotlight:

Columbia University in the City of New York, one of the world's most esteemed Ivy League institutions, suddenly emerged in the national spotlight because of a student-run encampment on the South Lawn just this past April. This protest, which challenged the university's relationships with pro-Israel organizations amid the Israel-Hamas war, profoundly impacted student routine on campus. The encampment disrupted everyday life and sparked an emotional mix of student solidarity and heightened tension on campus. The personal experiences of Columbia students, the heart of the university, reflect much of the change in campus dynamics that the demonstration brought about.

The grounds of the former encampment at Columbia University, a little under two months after it was cleared by the NYPD.

Noor Ahmed, a Columbia graduate student, recalled the turbulent time and noted how the nature of the demonstration changed students' moral concerns and impacted social interactions. “It was a beautiful thing to see,” he said, acknowledging his peers' passionate commitment to the ongoing issue in the Middle East. However, he also understood the disruptive aspects of the demonstration, particularly concerning security concerns and the change to normal university life. “It just disrupted the natural, like equilibrium at school,” Noor said, emphasizing the noticeable change in the atmosphere on campus.

The administration's response to the protests further stressed tensions between students and the university. “It was like a void in the university. And a lot of discussion [about the encampment] was avoided because they saw people standing up for something and the school removing them,” Noor said. 

The events on campus also began to shift students’ priorities. “I think overall, students shifted their focus and prioritized the political world,” he noted. This mass shift in Ivy League students’ interests symbolizes the encampment's deep impact on the student body as they grapple with the implications of the administration’s reaction to the protests. 

Luken Sloan, another Columbia student, also underscored the change in attitudes among students on campus, comparing it to the atmosphere before the demonstration. “I think that the changes in the student body feelings just make it feels more confined,” he said, months after the student encampment was forcibly dispersed. This emotional confinement was also due to the heightened tensions and unease on campus.

Following the protests, there was also an observable increase in NYPD presence on Columbia’s Morningside Campus. While, on the surface, this surge in law enforcement was intended to ensure public safety, it had further social consequences. “...you would think it would make you feel more secure, but the increased police presence kind of does the opposite, and it's just very overwhelming,” he said. These heightened security measures contributed to a consistent internal feeling that the conflict had not been truly resolved—which it has not been officially. “Like, I feel like there's a central tension everywhere as if it's not over,” Luken added, underlining the ongoing anxiousness still felt by many students.

The presence of law enforcement also affected the sense of community on campus. It stood as a constant reminder of the protests and the administration’s response—substantiating the divisions between the university and its students. This heightened security and lingering unease made it challenging for students to return to their pre-encampment sense of normalcy.

Ultimately, in the aftermath of the school’s Gaza encampment, the campus community, with students like Noor Ahmed and Luken Sloan, continues to navigate their academic and social lives at Columbia University. The student’s perseverance through this tough period highlights the resiliency of true Ivy League grit, as much of the academic determination they are accustomed to has been applied in a new social context. The impact of the encampment on Columbia’s campus will undoubtedly be felt for some time and will shape the university’s community and its approach to future demonstrations as time goes on. However, the adaptability and resilience of the student body give just enough reassurance for a promising future at Columbia University.