“A vote of no confidence in the President and her administration is the only way to begin rebuilding our shattered community and re-establishing the University’s core values of free speech, the right to peaceful assembly, and shared governance,” the group said in a statements days after Shafik used the New York Police Department (NYPD) to clear the pro-Palestinian encampment and get protesters out of Hamilton Hall.
The chapter takes issue with the use of the NYPD on Tuesday to make arrests, especially without the approval from faculty Senate.
“This decision was made without consultation with the University Senate, in violation of established procedures, by recourse to so-called emergency powers. It also flew in the face of efforts by the AAUP and faculty trusted by the student protestors to de-escalate the situation on campus and to serve as observers in negotiations — efforts endorsed by the University Senate chair that continued into the afternoon before the assault,” the statement reads.
The NYPD has arrested hundreds of people at Columbia since the pro-Palestinian demonstrations began over two weeks ago, kicking off a national-wide movement.
The faculty chapter points out other schools such as Brown University have made deals with activists to deescalate the protests peacefully.