‘Left with No Choice’: Columbia Releases Statement Claiming Protesters Were ‘Led by Individuals Who Are Not Affiliated with the University’

WAGNER: “I want to read a statement that we just got from Columbia. ‘A little after 9:00 P.M. this evening, the NYPD arrived on campus at the university’s request. This decision was made to restore safety and order to our community. We regret that protesters have chosen to escalate the situation through their actions. After the university learned overnight that Hamilton Hall had been occupied, vandalized and blockaded, we were left with no choice. Columbia public safety personnel were forced from the building and a member of the facilities team was threatened. We will not risk the safety of our community or the potential for further escalation. The leadership team, including the board of trustees, met throughout the night and into the early morning, consulting with security experts and law enforcement to determine the best plan to protect our students and the entire Columbia University community. We made the decision early in the morning that this was a law enforcement matter and that the NYPD were best positioned to determine and execute an appropriate response.’ This is interesting: ‘We believe the group that broke into and occupied building is led by individuals who are not affiliated with the university. Sadly, this dangerous decision followed more than a week of what had been productive discussions with the representatives of the West Lawn encampment.’ It goes on to talk about security precautions that they are taking on campus, and they are making clear that the life of campus cannot be endlessly interrupted by protesters who violate the rules and the law.”ay.