Columbia students currently have some support in their endeavors.
Over the weekend, a large number of Columbia University alumni united to support pro-Palestinian student protesters who were facing disciplinary action, suspensions, and even arrests. These alumni events, known as the Columbia Alternative Reunion, were organized to convey a strong message to the university administration that the movement for Palestinian rights doesn’t just stop with undergraduate students.
Gabby Beans, a Tony-nominated actor and writer who is an alumna, expressed her heartbreak while watching the events unfold. She showed her solidarity with the students and believed that what they were doing was a testament to Columbia, and not the other way around.
The participants organized the events to align with Columbia’s customary yearly class reunions, which require a payment. It was essentially a boycott.
Mychael Crafton, a Columbia University alumnus and engineer, expressed his discomfort with participating in activities that were in favor of the university, considering the administration’s failure to protect its students. “The fact that the administration did not take measures to ensure the safety of the students made me feel uneasy,” he shared.
In less than two days, attendees of an alternative reunion event raised over $13,000 for Palestinian causes instead of spending money to attend typical reunion events.
Every year, Columbia’s Morningside Heights campus is filled with thousands of alumni and their families during the regular class reunions. This is a time for them to come together and celebrate their college community. Michael Carter, who is an alternative reunion organizer, shared that the parties, dinners, and receptions not only help alumni stay connected to the university but also support its financial well-being.
According to Carter, the main concern is the endowment. He pointed out that Columbia, along with several other private universities, functions as a large hedge fund with a small school attached to it.
According to Eliana Goldin, who is a student in the Columbia-Jewish Theological Seminary program, the alternative reunions over the weekend were able to generate awareness for their cause and also raise funds for aid.
Students Face Degree Withholding After Pro-Palestinian Protests
In recent news, various colleges have been withholding degrees from students who participated in pro-Palestinian protests. These protests erupted in response to the recent violence in the Gaza Strip and the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Many students have reported being informed that their degrees will not be released until they pay fines or complete community service. This has caused outrage among the affected students and their supporters, who argue that their right to peaceful protest is being violated.
The decision by colleges to withhold degrees has also sparked debates about free speech and the right to protest on college campuses. Some argue that colleges are justified in punishing students for disrupting campus activities, while others maintain that colleges should protect the right to peaceful protest.
As the Israeli-Palestinian conflict continues to escalate, it remains to be seen how colleges will navigate the delicate balance between free speech and maintaining order on their campuses.
College nostalgia meets the current pro-Palestinian movement
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Over the weekend, a group of 500 well-dressed individuals in their thirties gathered at swanky bars in Manhattan to catch up with old friends and denounce their former university. These alumni, who now work in various professions such as psychology, fashion, law, and engineering, emphasized that their identities are not defined by any single perspective.
Beans expressed that the group of individuals holding diverse political beliefs is not a uniform crowd of furious leftists. They are his fellow classmates, and he takes pride in being associated with them.
According to Julie Slotnick, the lead organizer of the Columbia Alternative Reunion, attendees opt for the alternative events over the usual ones, as they desire a resolution to the ongoing conflict between Palestine and Israel.
Slotnick, a Jewish participant, emphasized that the reason they gathered was not only to see each other, but also to express their deep concern about the devastation and loss of lives in Gaza. “We cannot accept this kind of wasted life, where people are being decimated,” he said. Regardless of one’s affiliation or team, the group shares a common outrage towards the ongoing situation in Gaza.
On October 7, Hamas fighters entered southern Israel from Gaza, resulting in a war between Israel and Hamas. According to Israeli reports, more than 1,200 people, primarily civilians, were killed, and over 250 were taken hostage during the initial attack. In the aftermath, over 36,000 Palestinians have lost their lives.
Columbia response was ‘antithetical’ to university values
Upon hearing about Columbia students’ occupation of campus lawns with tents, Beans felt a sense of pride and inspiration. She was reminded of the 1968 protests led by Columbia students to demand racial equality and an end to the Vietnam War. Additionally, she reflected on how Columbia’s renowned Core Curriculum, which prioritizes literature and philosophy, has always aimed to cultivate moral reasoning among its students.
Beans expressed his pride as an alum when he witnessed the actions of the students, as it reminded him of the history of the institution. “The students were acting as a moral authority,” he remarked.
According to Slotnick, witnessing police being summoned to handle on-campus demonstrations marked a significant turning point.
“I had to cancel my plans to attend the reunion as soon as I contacted the NYPD,” she expressed. “It’s not possible for me to financially support them anymore.”
Alumni call for divestment, support for students
According to reports, Columbia alumni who attended alternative reunions have expressed their desire for the university to divest endowment funds from Israel. They have also stated that they are willing to consider other options if the campaign for divestment is unsuccessful.
Mychael Crafton, a St. Lucia-born engineer, empathizes with the difficulties that come with divesting and meeting demands. He acknowledges that it is not an easy feat to accomplish.
According to Crafton, it is imperative for Columbia to divest completely. However, if that is not feasible, the university must take the necessary steps to allocate more funds towards “anti-genocide” efforts, extend financial support to pro-Palestinian student organizations, and establish additional spaces for pro-Palestinian students to congregate.
Crafton believes that while it may not be possible to completely overhaul the system to suit everyone’s preferences, taking small steps towards progress is a good start. However, he expresses disappointment in the lack of initiative from the university in terms of actively involving pro-Palestinian students in the conversation.
The reunion events had a diverse representation of class years, including students from Barnard College. For over a century, Barnard College has been affiliated with Columbia as a historically women’s college. However, the college had to cancel its own class reunions earlier this spring.
After graduating from Barnard in 2013, Rachael Stein expressed her support for the Barnard students who were suspended due to their involvement in pro-Palestinian demonstrations by attending the Columbia Alternative Reunion event. She stood in solidarity with her fellow alumni and their cause.
Stein expressed confusion, stating, “It doesn’t add up. If students aren’t receiving support, how can we have faith in the strength of the Barnard community?”
Where are Columbia alumni donating?
According to Slotnick, the alternative reunion attendees managed to raise almost $13,000 for direct aid to Palestine on Friday and Saturday. They also raised additional funds for individual GoFundMe fundraisers. The alumni group has set a goal to raise $30,000 in total.
According to records, almost half of the funds raised were donated to the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund, while the remaining amount was distributed among the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, World Central Kitchen, and Freedom Bakeries.
According to Michael Carter, an organizer from the class of 2014, the pro-Palestinian student movement originated from students requesting the university to divest endowment funds from companies that benefit from the war in Israel. As alumni play a crucial role in contributing to the endowment, this weekend’s fundraising endeavors are an essential part of the broader campaign for divestment.
Carter emphasized the urgency of the matter, stating that it cannot be ignored and one cannot continue with their normal routine.