Columbia Law Told Professors to Call Campus Police on Student Protesters

Administrators at Columbia University prepared for citywide walkouts on the one-year anniversary of the October 7 attacks in Israel and the start of the war on Gaza. In an email on Sunday evening, a Columbia Law school administrator advised professors to contact campus security if protesters did not comply with requests to stop disruptions in classrooms.

The email instructed professors to give two warnings to those who violated the Rules of University Conduct. If the disruptions continued despite warnings, professors were instructed to call the campus Public Safety department. The email, obtained by The Intercept, referred to these instructions as “practical tips for addressing and de-escalating classroom disruptions.”

Professors were also told to call 911 if the disruptive behavior posed an immediate safety threat. Campus security officers are unarmed.

Columbia University has become a focal point for campus anti-war activism, particularly against U.S. support for Israel’s actions in Gaza. The crackdown on student and faculty activism against the war has intensified as the conflict escalates.

Students at Columbia have continued to push for divestment from companies with ties to Israel. Previous protests have resulted in arrests and student suspensions. This semester, protests have included marches, sit-ins, and study-in protests.

Students for Justice in Palestine at Columbia promoted a walkout at the steps of Low Library, urging students and workers to join in. The campus has increased public safety measures in response to planned protests and walkouts.

Interim President Katrina Armstrong warned of a “period of uncertainty” and pledged increased public safety presence on campus. The school expressed support for special events and nonviolent protests but raised concerns about unregistered protest activities and potential violence from external groups.

Security measures were tightened on campus, with only individuals with campus IDs allowed inside. The school coordinated with NYPD to ensure protests outside campus did not disrupt access.