Tensions Flare at Barnard College as Pro-Palestinian Protesters Stage Sit-In Over Student Expulsions
A Dramatic Confrontation on Campus
On Wednesday afternoon, a dramatic scene unfolded at Barnard College in Manhattan, as dozens of masked pro-Palestinian demonstrators stormed into Milbank Hall, staging a sit-in to protest the expulsion of two students who had interrupted a class on Israel earlier this year. The protesters pushed past a security guard, entering the building around 4 p.m., with the goal of occupying the area outside the office of Dean Leslie Grinage. Their chants of “There is only one solution, intifada revolution” and the beat of drums filled the air as they demanded the reversal of the expulsions, amnesty for other students disciplined for pro-Palestinian activism, and a public meeting with Dean Grinage and President Laura Rosenbury.
The sit-in quickly escalated into a confrontation with Barnard’s administration, which accused the protesters of physically assaulting a college employee, who was hospitalized. A Police Department spokesman reported that a 41-year-old man was taken to Mt. Sinai Morningside Hospital at 4:08 p.m., complaining of “pain about the body” and was in stable condition. The college administration issued a statement denouncing the protesters’ actions as a violation of Barnard’s core values of respect, inclusion, and academic excellence. President Rosenbury characterized the protesters’ behavior as “completely unacceptable” and warned that the college would take further action if the situation did not resolve.
The Protesters’ Demands and the College’s Response
The protesters, affiliated with Columbia Students for Justice in Palestine, a banned group on campus, had clear demands. They sought the immediate reversal of the suspensions of the two students who had been expelled for disrupting a class on Israel. They also demanded amnesty for all other students who had faced disciplinary action for pro-Palestinian activism. Additionally, they called for a public meeting with Dean Grinage, who they claimed had the authority to decide on appeals of the student suspensions, and with President Rosenbury. The group’s social media posts, including images of the sit-in, reflected their determination: “Disruption until Divestment, Resistance Until Return, Agitation until Amnesty. We will not stop until our demands are met.”
The college administration, however, refused to negotiate under the protesters’ terms. A faculty intermediary, Kristina Milnor, chair of the Barnard classics department, communicated Dean Grinage’s offer to meet with up to three unmasked protesters, provided they showed identification. The protesters rejected this offer, arguing that their masks were a form of protection and that the college’s conditions were an attempt to undermine their anonymity and safety. President Rosenbury, who was in Florida at the time, did not directly engage with the protesters.
As the standoff continued, Barnard spokeswoman Robin Levine issued a statement warning that if the protesters did not leave the building by 9:30 p.m., the college would take additional measures to protect the campus. Levine emphasized that the college did not know if all the protesters were Barnard students and noted that there had been violence during the initial entry into Milbank Hall. “We have made multiple good-faith efforts to de-escalate,” she said. “Barnard leadership offered to meet with the protesters — just as we meet with all members of our community — on one simple condition: remove their masks. They refused. We have also offered mediation.”
The Aftermath of the Sit-In
By 10:40 p.m., the protesters had decided to leave the building, marching out peacefully while chanting and beating a drum. The New York Police Department had deployed at least nine vans to Riverside Drive near the campus by 10 p.m., but no arrests were reported. The protesters’ departure marked the end of a tense and dramatic day, but the underlying issues that sparked the sit-in remain unresolved.
The sit-in was provoked by the expulsion of two Barnard students who had been involved in a disruption of a class on Israel at Columbia University on January 21. During the incident, four masked pro-Palestinian demonstrators entered Professor Avi Shilon’s “History of Modern Israel” class, handing out antisemitic fliers and filming their own actions. The protesters accused the class of “intellectualizing and normalizing a genocide” and called it a “Zionist class.” Professor Shilon, a visiting history professor from Israel, reportedly asked the protesters if they wanted to stay and engage in a dialogue, but they refused and left after about five minutes.
The expulsions of the two students were disclosed by the student protest group Columbia University Apartheid Divest, which celebrated the disruption on social media, encouraging others to follow suit. Barnard officials declined to comment on the status of the students, citing confidentiality concerns. However, President Rosenbury defended the college’s decision to expel the students, stating that they had shown “no reflection, and no willingness to change” after the incident.
The Broader Implications of the Conflict
The incident at Barnard College reflects the deeper tensions on campuses across the United States, where debates over Israel-Palestine often intersect with issues of free speech, academic freedom, and student activism. The expulsions of the two students have sparked widespread concern among some students and faculty members, who view the penalties as overly severe. Expulsion is a rare punishment, and the speed and severity of Barnard’s discipline have surprised many in the academic community.
The situation also raises questions about the role of campus administrations in balancing free speech with the need to maintain a safe and inclusive learning environment. Barnard’s administration has taken a firm stance, asserting that the protesters’ actions violated the college’s values and posed a threat to the safety of the community. However, critics argue that the college’s response risks chilling free speech and undermining the rights of students to engage in peaceful protest.
In a statement on Sunday, President Rosenbury emphasized that Barnard “will always take decisive action to protect our community as a place where learning thrives, individuals feel safe, and higher education is celebrated.” She also noted that student privacy rules prevented her from commenting directly on the expulsions, but she made it clear that the college would not tolerate behavior that disrupted the academic environment or compromised the safety of its members.
A Call for Dialogue and Reflection
As the situation at Barnard College continues to unfold, it serves as a reminder of the challenges universities face in navigating complex political and social issues. The incident has sparked a broader conversation about the limits of student activism, the importance of protecting academic freedom, and the need for inclusive and respectful dialogue on campus.
In the aftermath of the sit-in, many in the Barnard and Columbia communities are calling for a more constructive approach to addressing these issues. Some faculty members and student leaders have expressed hope that the incident will prompt a deeper examination of the underlying tensions and a renewed commitment to fostering an environment where all students feel heard and respected. Others, however, remain skeptical, arguing that the college’s handling of the situation reflects a broader pattern of silencing dissent and marginalizing certain voices.
As the academic year progresses, the events at Barnard College will likely serve as a catalyst for further debate and reflection on these critical issues. The challenge for the college administration, faculty, and students will be to find a way to balance the competing values of free speech, safety, and inclusion, while also addressing the underlying grievances that led to the sit-in. Only through open and inclusive dialogue can the Barnard community hope to move forward in a way that honors its core values and promotes a culture of mutual respect and understanding.
