UPDATE MAY 1, 2024: After the horrific events of April 30 and the invasion of campus, please sign our latest statement here: https://t.ly/6HjtN
In addition to signing this collective statement, we urge you to contact Columbia and SIPA administrators individually too .
Email Script: Please use this script link to reach SIPA's Dean Yarhi-Milo and Columbia President Shafik directly, with just one click. For additional actions, including calling administrators, visit this link.
April 18, 2024
We, alumni of SIPA, are extremely disturbed at the events unfolding at Columbia in the past few days. The repression of peaceful students protesting for an end to genocide and testimony by Columbia administration in Congress was a complete capitulation to a brazen attack on liberal higher education, freedom of expression on college campuses, as well as on discussion of rights of oppressed peoples. These matters are thus of global concern, and we alum, based around the world, are watching closely.
We express our unequivocal support for the brave students and faculty who have been expressing dissent against the Israeli genocide of Palestinians and this week established the Gaza Solidarity Encampment, in the best traditions of the University student body’s history of social justice activism. We are utterly disgusted at the arrest of over 120 students on April 18 by the NYPD, authorized by the President.
We urgently and immediately demand the following from Columbia's administrators:
1. SIPA's Dean urgently meet with the group of students who have been subjected to doxing. They have been repeatedly asking to meet and we expect an action plan with clear timelines.
2. SIPA’s Dean must meet with Palestinian and anti-war SIPA students who have been persistently requesting a meeting for weeks. The lack of response to their requests is unacceptable and must be rectified without delay.
3. The immediate release of all arrested and detained students by the NYPD. It is reprehensible that Columbia administration has actively colluded with the police to invade and attack its own campus. Further, the students should face no charges and no academic discipline proceedings by the University.
4. An immediate end to the militarization of the Columbia campus and SIPA's building. SIPA’s Dean must ensure that under no circumstance should NYPD enter SIPA's premises to detain any peaceful, non-violent student or other protester.
5. President Shafik and Dean Yarhi-Milo immediately clarify that they believe criticism of Israeli policies (currently on trial for genocide) is not inherently antisemitic. We condemn and lament that they have already caused significant damage by repeatedly conflating Israel as equal to Judaism and Jewish people. This instrumentalization of antisemitism only makes Jews less safe and must end immediately.
6. Immediately reverse the recent suspensions of all students and student groups who expressed solidarity for Palestinian rights.
7. Columbia immediately divest from any entity that contributes to or profits from Israeli apartheid and occupation of Palestine.
We shall withhold all financial and operational support for Columbia University and SIPA until the above demands are addressed.
In light of these events, we also call on all concerned alumni with a conscience to boycott SIPA’s 2024 Alumni Day on April 20. Please do not allow yourself to be used to launder this administration’s apathy.
SIPA Alumni
