In a settlement resolving a complaint over campus safety during intense pro-Palestinian protests earlier this year, Columbia University has pledged to implement measures to ensure safe access for students, according to legal documents.
The settlement, reached on Tuesday in federal district court for the Southern District of New York, requires the university to create a "Safe Passage Liaison" with the authority to open alternative entrances and exits for students. The liaison will also have the ability to provide 24-hour security escorts if needed.
"We think peaceful protest is a constructive way to solve situations," Jay Edelson, an attorney for the plaintiff said. "But recently, extremists have tried to take over campuses and push out, figuratively and literally, people who they deem are on the wrong side. That has created situations that have turned frightening."
The agreement comes in response to a class-action lawsuit filed by a Jewish student, identified only by initials, who claimed that the pro-Palestinian demonstrations in April made some Jewish students targets of antisemitic threats. The protests, sparked by the escalating conflict between Israel and Hamas, swept across college campuses nationwide, with Columbia becoming an epicenter of tensions.
At the height of the unrest, hundreds of New York Police Department officers in riot gear cleared Hamilton Hall - an administration building occupied by protesters, and access to the university's Morningside campus was restricted even for many students and faculty members.
Under the settlement terms, Columbia has also committed to fostering debate and discussion as an alternative to "extreme forms of protest." The university agreed to consider academic accommodations for students unable to complete coursework due to lack of campus access during the turmoil.
"We are pleased we have been able to come to a resolution and remain committed to our number one priority: the safety of our campus so that all of our students can successfully pursue their education and meet their academic goals," Ben Chang, a university spokesman said.
The settlement acknowledges Columbia's "significant measures" this year to protect student safety, including restricting campus access, hiring additional security personnel, and engaging private security and city police.
"We think that's the only way to restore sanity to universities," Edelson said, referring to the university's commitment to encourage "real discussion" through public forums and debates on complex issues.
Both parties affirmed their belief in "open debate" and "free thought," even on strongly felt subjects that raise uncomfortable questions, according to the settlement agreement.
