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Virtual Visit Opportunities

Virtual events from June through mid-August are now available.  Review the chronological list below to browse available virtual opportunities. English-language auto-generated closed captioning is available for all of our virtual events. All times Eastern.    

   Virtual Information Sessions  are offered weekly on Tuesday at 4:00 p.m. and on Friday at 10:00 a.m. Virtual Information Sessions are additionally available at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 29, Saturday, July 27, and Saturday, August 3. Virtual Student Q&A Chats  on a wide variety of topics are offered biweekly on Wednesdays at 5:30 p.m. in July and August.   

   We encourage prospective students and their families to explore Columbia through our robust video and self-guided visit programming as well. Our interactive virtual tour covers Columbia academics and student life through 360° photos of campus facilities, embedded media to explore topics further and immersive video featuring current students and faculty. Visit Columbia Undergraduate Admissions on YouTube for recordings of Student Instagram Takeovers , a video campus tour led by a current student , or our Blue View playlist that covers the basics of Columbia University and the admissions process.     

• Virtual Information Session Tuesday, June 11 at 4:00 PM
• Virtual Information Session Friday, June 14 at 10:00 AM
• Virtual Information Session Friday, June 21 at 10:00 AM
• Virtual Information Session Tuesday, June 25 at 4:00 PM
• Virtual Information Session Friday, June 28 at 10:00 AM
• Virtual Information Session Saturday, June 29 at 10:00 AM
• Virtual Information Session Tuesday, July 2 at 4:00 PM
• Virtual Information Session Tuesday, July 9 at 4:00 PM
• Virtual Student Q&A Chat: Columbia 101 Wednesday, July 10 at 5:30 PM
• Virtual Information Session Friday, July 12 at 10:00 AM
• Virtual Information Session Tuesday, July 16 at 4:00 PM
• Virtual Information Session Friday, July 19 at 10:00 AM
• Virtual Information Session Tuesday, July 23 at 4:00 PM
• Virtual Student Q&A Chat: The Core Curriculum Wednesday, July 24 at 5:30 PM
• Virtual Information Session Friday, July 26 at 10:00 AM
• Virtual Information Session Saturday, July 27 at 10:00 AM
• Virtual Information Session Tuesday, July 30 at 4:00 PM
• Virtual Information Session Friday, August 2 at 10:00 AM
• Virtual Information Session Saturday, August 3 at 10:00 AM
• Virtual Information Session Tuesday, August 6 at 4:00 PM
• Virtual Student Q&A Chat: Living in NYC Wednesday, August 7 at 5:30 PM
• Virtual Information Session Friday, August 9 at 10:00 AM
• Virtual Information Session Tuesday, August 13 at 4:00 PM
• Virtual Student Q&A Chat: Columbia 101 Wednesday, August 14 at 5:30 PM
• Virtual Information Session Friday, August 16 at 10:00 AM

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Regular Decision for Fall 2024 Decisions Available

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Broaden your undergraduate experience with one or two semesters in the Visiting Student Program.

Ashley's advice: "Ask yourself, "Who do I want to become?" I applied to Columbia because I knew that I wanted to become someone who engages with and learns from the arts, someone who could reconcile ancient philosophical texts with modern issues and someone who could appreciate cultural diversity because I’d lived in a city that valued it."

Why Columbia?  "At Columbia, there’s a true abundance of opportunities—both within campus and in the city—something that really excited me. I still got the campus atmosphere I desired to develop a strong sense of community, while very much being a part of one of the most bustling cities in the world."

Sarah's advice:  "It's crucial to keep an open mind. In my own case, for part of high school I was sure I did not want to go to a school in a big city... and then I toured Columbia, and my mind was completely changed!"

Why Columbia? "One of the biggest reasons why I chose to come to Columbia was because of how many resources are available. As a student who is first-gen, low income and coming from a single parent household, financial aid and the diversity of the student population was really important to me."

Why Columbia? "I chose Columbia because there are endless opportunities in our very own backyard. New York City is oftentimes called the capital of the world, and that's because of everything here—entertainment, art, business, music, internships... The list goes on!"

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is columbia looking for when evaluating students for admission what are the criteria for admission.

The Columbia University first-year class of College and Engineering students is chosen from a large and diverse group of applicants. Columbia employs a holistic approach in assessing candidates in order to evaluate which students are the best matches for Columbia's unique educational experience.

In the process of selection, the Committee on Admissions considers each applicant's academic potential, intellectual strength and ability to think independently. The Committee also considers the general attitudes and character of the applicant, special abilities and interests, maturity, motivation, curiosity and whether they are likely to make productive use of the four years at Columbia.

How do I apply for financial aid?

The financial aid application process collects information about your family's income, assets, family composition and other circumstances. All requirements and submission instructions are detailed on the Financial Aid & Educational Financing website. Learn more about affordability and aid at Columbia .

What if I need an application deadline extension?

We understand that students personally affected by natural disasters, community disturbances or other extenuating circumstances may have challenges in completing their applications on time; they are invited to email us at [email protected] if their application will be arriving late.

How do I track the status of my application?

Online admissions document tracking is only available during certain times in the admissions process. Applicants will receive an email notifying them how to access their applicant portal. If, at that time, you discover that any items are listed as "not received/processed," please have your school submit a duplicate copy of this missing information to us via email at  [email protected]  as soon as possible. Emailed materials will take up to one week for processing. You will have time to submit the missing credentials before decisions are released without being penalized.

Welcome to Columbia University in the City of New York. Our campus is located specifically on the island of Manhattan, which means "island of many hills" in the language of the Lenni Lenape people. We recognize that Manhattan is part of the ancestral and traditional homeland of the Lenni Lenape and Wappinger people, who are still active members of our community throughout New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Learn more by  watching this video .

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Visiting Columbia College

• Directions to campus

Parking near campus

• Accomodations near campus
• Campus tours
• Sightseeing in New York  

Directions to Campus 

Columbia College is located on the University's Morningside Heights campus at Broadway and 116th Street in Manhattan. Drivers should note that in New York City, right turns at red lights are illegal unless traffic signs state otherwise.

By Car From the North

Take the New York Thruway (I-87) or the New England Thruway (I-95) south to the Cross Bronx Expressway (I-95) in the direction of the George Washington Bridge. Take the exit for the Henry Hudson Parkway south (last exit before the bridge). Exit the Parkway at West 125th Street. Merge onto Marginal Street (0.2 miles). Turn left onto 125th Street (0.2 miles). Turn right onto Broadway and continue south to 116th Street. University main gate is on left. The main gate is not open to vehicular traffic.

Alternatively, take the Saw Mill River Parkway south to the Henry Hudson Parkway south. Cross the Henry Hudson Bridge (cash toll) into Manhattan. Exit the Parkway at West 125th Street. Merge onto Marginal Street (0.2 miles). Turn left onto 125th Street (0.2 miles). Turn right onto Broadway and continue south to 116th Street. University main gate is on the left. The main gate is not open to vehicular traffic.

By Car From the South or West

Take the New Jersey Turnpike north or I-80 east to the George Washington Bridge (cash toll heading into New York; westbound to New Jersey is free). After crossing the bridge, take the exit for the Henry Hudson Parkway south. Exit the Parkway at 125th Street. Merge onto Marginal Street (0.2 miles). Turn left onto 125th Street (0.2 miles). Turn right onto Broadway and continue south to 114th Street. Make U-turn and continue to 116th Street. University main gate is on right. The main gate is not open to vehicular traffic.

Alternatively, drivers can enter New York City via the Lincoln Tunnel. Take I-280 north to I-95 north. From I-95, take Exit 16E toward the Lincoln Tunnel/NJ-3 (cash toll heading into New York; westbound to New Jersey is always free). Keep left at the fork and merge onto NJ-495 east. Leaving the tunnel, take the exit toward 42 St./I-495 E/New York 9A; bear to the left and continue under the underpass onto Dyer Avenue. Turn left onto West 41st Street. Turn right onto 12th Avenue, the Henry Hudson Parkway. From the Parkway, take the West 96th Street exit. Merge onto 96th Street and turn left onto Broadway. Continue to West 116th Street. University main gate is on right. The main gate is not open to vehicular traffic.

By Car From Southern Manhattan or Brooklyn

Take the Henry Hudson Parkway (Route 9A) north. Exit the Parkway at 125th Street. Turn right onto 125th Street. Turn right onto Broadway and continue south to 116th Street. University main gate is on the left. The main gate is not open to vehicular traffic.

By Car From Long Island

Take the Long Island Expressway or the Grand Central Parkway west to the Triborough/RFK Bridge (cash toll), to Manhattan. Follow 125th Street westward 12 blocks to Broadway, which is under an elevated subway structure. Turn left onto Broadway and continue south to 116th Street. University main gate is on the left. The main gate is not open to vehicular traffic.

By Car From the New York Area Airports

From LaGuardia: Take the Grand Central Parkway west to the Triborough/RFK Bridge (cash toll), to Manhattan. Follow 125th Street westward 12 blocks to Broadway. Turn left onto Broadway, which is under an elevated subway structure and continue south to 116th Street. University main gate is on the left. The main gate is not open to vehicular traffic.

From John F. Kennedy: Take the Van Wyck Expressway (I-678) northeast to the Grand Central Parkway (Exit 10) toward La Guardia Airport and the Triborough/RFK Bridge. Cross the bridge (cash toll) into Manhattan. Follow 125th Street westward 12 blocks to Broadway, which is under an elevated subway structure. Turn left onto Broadway and continue south to 116th Street. University main gate is on the left. The main gate is not open to vehicular traffic.

From Newark: Follow directions under By Car From the South or West (above).

By Train or Bus

Trains to New York arrive at Grand Central Station or Pennsylvania Station; buses stop at the Port Authority Bus Terminal. Visitors arriving at these stations can take either public transportation or a taxi north to the campus.

By New York City Public Transportation

Five bus lines (M4, M5, M11, M60, M104) and one subway line (the No. 1 local) serve the Columbia neighborhood. The Columbia stop for the buses and the subway is 116th Street. The M60 bus is a direct link between campus and LaGuardia Airport. Do not use the Nos. 2 and 3 express subway trains, which follow a different route and do not stop at Columbia University. If you take the No. 2 or 3, transfer at 96th Street to the No. 1 local train.

Maps of bus and subway routes are available from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority .

For visitors coming into La Guardia, John F. Kennedy or Newark airports, taxi service is available to the campus (about $25 from LaGuardia; from Kennedy a flat rate of $45 plus tolls), and there is bus service to Grand Central Station and the Port Authority Bus Terminal. The M60 city bus goes directly from LaGuardia airport to Columbia.

You may park on the streets around campus (there is metered and non-metered parking) or use the local parking garages. If parking on the street on weekdays, be sure to check street signs for parking rules and regulations. The garages below are listed from south to north.

PAO Parking 214 West 95th Street (between Broadway & Amsterdam Avenue)

West Side Parking 234 West 108th Street (between Broadway & Amsterdam Avenue) 212-222-8800 Open from 7 a.m. to 2 a.m.

E&B Operating Group 143 West 108th Street (between Columbus & Amsterdam Avenue) 212-865-8315 Open 24 hours

GGMC Parking 512 West 112th Street (between Broadway & Amsterdam Avenue) 212-865-1754 Open from 6 a.m. to midnight

Pro Park America 1090 West 114th Street (between Broadway & Amsterdam Avenue) 212-523-1051 Open from 6 a.m. to midnight

Claremont Parking Corp. Riverside Church, 120th Street (between Claremont Avenue & Riverside Drive) 212-870-6736 Open from 6 a.m. to midnight

GMC Garage 532 West 122nd Street (between Broadway & Amsterdam Avenue) 212-961-1075 Open from 6 a.m. to midnight

More Than Parking (MTP) 631-635 West 131st Street (between Broadway & 12th Avenue) 212-368-2579 Open from 6 a.m. to midnight

Accommodations near campus

There are a number of hotels in the area, some of which offer Columbia University rates. We recommend using  Columbia Guest and Conference Accommodations , the  Columbia Travel Portal , and Columbia Admissions Accommodations  as starting places for your hotel search.

Hotel Belleclaire 250 West 77th Street New York, NY 10024  Phone: (212) 362-7700 Toll-Free: (877) HOTELBC

The Helmsley Park Lane Hotel 36 Central Park South New York, NY 10019 Phone: (212) 521-6640 Toll-Free: (800) 221-4982 

Hudson Hotel   358 West 57th Street New York, NY 10019 Phone:  (212) 554-6000 Toll-Free: (800) 606-6090

The Lucerne Hotel 201 West 79th Street New York, NY 10024 Phone: (212) 875-1000 Toll-Free: (800) 492-8122

On the Avenue 2178 Broadway New York, NY 10024 Phone: (212) 362-1100   Toll-Free: (800) 509-7598  

Campus Tours  

Groups of fewer than ten people are free to tour the Morningside campus on their own or join a guided tour at 1 p.m. Monday through Friday. The tour is not specific to any academic program and does not include admissions information. Maps and other materials for self-guided tours are available in the Visitors Center, located in room 213 of Low Memorial Library. The Visitors Center is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. No registration is required to pick up a  self-guided tour ; however, a current Columbia I.D. is required to enter all buildings except Low Library. You are welcome to explore any of the outdoor green space on campus. A  virtual tour and podcast  are available online.

For information on admissions tours, please visit the admissions website .  

Click here to view a campus map.

Sightseeing in New York

Please use the following links to add activities to your trip.

• Official NYC Guide
• Timeout New York
• NY Magazine
• TripAdvisor

About the College

• CC/SEAS Expansion Study

Visit Teachers College

Visit our campus to sample the learning and social environments we have designed for our students, faculty and staff. Each day brings new special lectures, colloquia, and workshops, which augment the multitude of academic offerings at Teachers College. The campus, and the great city of which we are a part, provide opportunities for extraordinary experiences. Please come and take a look at the possibilities that studying at Teachers College presents. We look forward to seeing you on campus in the very near future.

Map of Teachers College Campus

Read directions to campus below or  view a larger map.

• Take a Virtual Tour

Directions to Teachers College

Teachers College is located on the Upper West Side of Manhattan on 120th Street between Broadway and Amsterdam Avenue and is accessible by various modes of transportation.

The subway station serving Teachers College is the 116th Street stop of the No. 1 subway train (red line). Be sure that you are on (or transfer to) the 1 train at the 96th Street Station. The express lines (No. 2 or No. 3 trains) do not serve Columbia University. There are subway entrances at Penn Station and the Port Authority Bus Terminal. From Grand Central Station, the Shuttle (S) goes to "Times Square" 42nd Street, offering access to the No. 1 trains going Northbound/Uptown.

• The  MTA website  has information about NYC Transit, Long Island Rail Road, Long Island Bus, Metro-North Railroad as well as metropolitan bridges and tunnels

Trains to New York arrive at Grand Central Station or Pennsylvania Station. Visitors arriving at these stations can take either public transportation or a taxi north to the campus.

• Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA)  - for information about New York City Transit, Long Island Rail Road, Long Island Bus, Metro-North Railroad as well as metropolitan bridges and tunnels
• Long Island Railroad
• New Jersey Transit  

The Henry Hudson Parkway (West Side Highway) in New York City runs parallel to the Hudson River and offers convenient access to Teachers College. The highway can be reached from most of the main routes entering New York City. The nearest major highway link to it is Interstate Highway 95 (I-95).

Whether driving north or south on the Henry Hudson Parkway/West Side Highway, exit at 95th Street. At the first traffic light, turn north (left) onto Riverside Drive; at 120th Street turn east (right) and go two blocks east to the College. The main entrance is located midway between Broadway and Amsterdam Avenue, on the north side of West 120th Street.

While West 120th Street offers metered parking on both sides of the street, parking on New York City streets in the Columbia University area is limited.

Nearby off-street parking facilities include  (Please call garages directly for current prices and reservations) :

• Morningside Garage, 3100 Broadway (at 123rd Street), (212) 864-9877
• E & B Operating Corp., 137 West 108th Street (between Amsterdam and Columbus Avenues), (212) 865-8315
• Park Yorkshire Garage, 151 West 108th Street (between Amsterdam and Columbus Avenues), (212) 865-2314
• Upper Westside Parking Garage, 234 West 108th Street (between Amsterdam Avenue and Broadway), (212) 222-8800
• Riverside Church Garage, 120th Street (between Riverside Drive and Claremont Avenue), (212) 870-6736
• Evening parking is available at Riverside Church (call (212) 866-1000

Bus transportation into New York City from neighboring states and communities usually terminates at Port Authority Bus Terminal, at West 42nd Street and Eighth Avenue. Within New York City, four bus routes include a stop at West 120th Street and Broadway (Teachers College):

• M4  (available from both Grand Central Station and Penn Station),  M5 ,  M11 , and the  M104 (available from the Port Authority Bus Terminal). The fare required is exact change in coins, OMNY or Metrocard.
• MTA website  — New York City Transit, Long Island Rail Road, Long Island Bus, Metro-North Railroad as well as metropolitan bridges and tunnels.

Three international airports connect with convenient bus and taxi New York City. From John F. Kennedy Airport and LaGuardia Airport, economical bus service to Grand Central Terminal and various Manhattan hotels is available. Also from LaGuardia Airport, there is a more direct bus service (M60) to West 116th Street and Broadway. From Newark Liberty Airport, there is New Jersey Transit bus service to the Port Authority Bus Terminal. Although New York City cabs operate on mileage meters, cab fares can vary with traffic conditions. The average one-way fare from John F. Kennedy Airport is approximately $70.00, one way from LaGuardia Airport is about $30.00. Designated airport passenger pick-up areas usually have cab dispatchers available to assist you.

• Airports - The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey  

Campus Maps

The campus consists of 5 residence halls and 8 interconnected buildings. Take time to explore the campus and neighborhood and to admire the Gothic architecture dating back to the early 19th Century. Whether you are a part-time or full-time student, we encourage you to become familiar with not only the campus, but also the entire neighborhood.

Teachers College Campus Map - Buildings

Teachers College Campus Map - Offices

Teachers College Campus Map

All-Gender Restrooms And Lactation Rooms

Morningside Campus Map

Graduate Engineering

Campus tours.

United States—New York

• Campus Tour Thursday, May 23 at 2:00 PM New York, NY
• Campus Tour Thursday, May 30 at 2:00 PM New York, NY

Campus protests live updates: Nearly 100 people arrested at Columbia, NYPD says after clearing Hamilton Hall

What to know about campus protests:

• Nearly 100 people were arrested tonight at Columbia University as NYPD officers cleared Hamilton Hall, which had been taken over, and a tent encampment that students established to protest the war in Gaza.
• NYPD officers descended on Columbia University just after 9 p.m. and declared the campus clear just before 11 p.m.
• Special police units entered Hamilton Hall through a second-story window using a massive truck and a ramp. About 40 people were arrested in the building's first floor, NYPD said.
• The university has asked the NYPD to maintain a presence on campus through at least May 17, two days after the scheduled graduation.
• Columbia and Barnard students were urged by school officials to shelter in place.
• Before Columbia called for NYPD's assistance, law enforcement officials said they believed the protests had been taken over by outside agitators.

Students warned to stay inside during NYPD operation

Columbia student and university news staff writer Chris Mendell is with several students in Ruggles Hall on campus that have been told by police that if they leave the building they will be arrested. 

House Speaker Mike Johnson likens protesters to 'common criminals'

Rebecca Kaplan

Zoë Richards

House Speaker Mike Johnson tonight referred to student protesters at Columbia as criminals during an interview as NYPD officers began entering Hamilton Hall.

"These kids who are out of control like this need to be dealt with like the common criminals that they are," Johnson, R-La., told Fox News' Sean Hannity.

Separately, House Majority Whip Tom Emmer appeared to praise the police action.

"Enough is enough," Emmer, R-Minn., wrote on X alongside a video that appeared to show police entering the campus. "You cannot expect to break the law and campus rules without repercussions. Accountability is here."

House Republicans today said they plan to hold congressional hearings with more university presidents about antisemitism, in addition to scrutinizing the visas of students engaged in “radical” protests.

About 100 people detained, NYPD says after declaring Hamilton Hall and tent encampment clear

Jonathan Dienst

The NYPD said about 10:50 p.m. that Hamilton Hall is clear and that the tent encampment set up at Columbia has also been cleared.

Police detained about 100 people, a spokesperson said.

At Hamilton Hall, which was taken over and occupied early this morning, about 40 people — most of whom were on first floor — were detained.

Police had entered through a second-floor window using “the bear” — the nickname for the ladder truck they used to gain entry, the spokesperson said.

NYPD says no injuries and dozens detained at Columbia

There have been no injuries and dozens of people have been detained since police entered Columbia University this evening after protests and the occupation of Hamilton Hall, an NYPD spokesperson said.

Police are on the top floor of Hamilton Hall clearing barricades and detaining more people, a senior law enforcement source said.

All other floors have been cleared, and police said they found overturned soda machines, couches, chairs and other barricades.

No tear gas was used, but flash-bang devices designed to distract were used as police moved in, the NYPD spokesperson said.

Faculty member calls use of police 'unconscionable'

Antonia Hylton

A faculty member criticized Columbia's leadership for what she said was suppression of students’ rights for months.

“Faculty are surprised. We’re surprised, and, in some ways, we’re not surprised, because we’ve seen this coming,” said Debbie Becher, a professor of sociology at Barnard College.

“For six months now, ever since this conflict began, [the administration has] continuously suppressed students’ speech, and faculty have continued to say we need to support them, to have difficult conversations — that’s what faculty do, that’s what higher education is about,” Becher said.

Barnard is independent, but it’s also an official college of Columbia, and they neighbor each other in Manhattan.

Becher said Columbia has been increasingly suppressing and disciplining students for expressing themselves.

“It’s unconscionable. They’re sending hundreds of police after our students,” she said.

Students say they've been warned to stay inside or risk arrest

Chris Mendell, a student journalist with the university's newspaper, the Columbia Daily Spectator, said police have barricaded students in their dorms.

And radio journalists broadcasting on WKCR said police told them that if they left Pulitzer Hall, they would be detained.

Police bus full of detained people leaves area

Matt Lavietes

An NYPD bus full of people detained on or near Columbia's campus was seen leaving the area.

Protesters on the streets were cheering for those on the bus, and they in turn could be seen screaming.

NYPD says it didn't deploy tear gas

Janelle Griffith

An NYPD official rebutted accounts on social media that said the department used tear gas at Columbia tonight.

"The NYPD does not use tear gas," the official said, adding that police use a distraction device that’s thrown and makes a loud noise that allows officers the time to access a barricade.

U.S. Reps. AOC, Jamaal Bowman slam police response

Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Jamaal Bowman, both D-N.Y., criticized the police response at Columbia tonight in separate statements, with Ocasio-Cortez also faulting Mayor Eric Adams. 

“I am outraged by the level of police presence called upon nonviolent student protestors on Columbia and CCNY’s campuses,” Bowman said in a statement. “As an educator who has first hand experience with the over-policing of our schools, this is personal to me.”

He added: “Educational institutions should be spaces to nurture critical thinking skills and learn to work together with diverse communities to enact a more just and peaceful world. The militarization of college campuses, extensive police presence, and arrest of hundreds of students are in direct opposition to the role of education as a cornerstone of our democracy.”

Ocasio-Cortez meanwhile said that if any “kid is hurt tonight, responsibility will fall” on Adams and university presidents.

“Other leaders and schools have found a safe, de-escalatory path,” she said, most likely referring to Brown University. “This is the opposite of leadership and endangers public safety. A nightmare in the making.”

She urged Adams to reverse course.

Columbia unrest echoes chaotic campus protest movement of 1968

Daniel Arkin

The tumult at Columbia University has seized national attention, providing for many young Americans an emotionally fraught introduction to heated student activism. But the unrest engulfing the Ivy League campus in upper Manhattan is also intensely familiar.

Fifty-six years ago, Columbia students furious over the U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War and the school’s plans to build a segregated gym in nearby Morningside Park decided to  take over Hamilton Hall , an academic building on the main campus. Overnight, pro-Palestinian demonstrators stormed and occupied the same building, with some drawing direct parallels between their activism and the legacy of 1968.

The sociopolitical conflicts at the root of the two protest eras are not precisely the same, however — and in today’s campus environment, students are also sounding the alarm about a  sharp uptick in both antisemitism and Islamophobia  since Oct 7. But some of the students involved in the activism at Columbia have nonetheless sought to present their political agitation as a direct continuation of late ’60s change-making.

Read the full story here.

Columbia asks NYPD to be on campus until May 17

Phil Helsel

University President Nemat “Minouche” Shafik is asking the NYPD to have a presence on campus through at least May 17.

In a letter asking for police help in clearing occupied Hamilton Hall as well as protest encampments, Shafik referenced an earlier police action that cleared an encampment and led to more than 100 arrests. Protesters then set up a new encampment.

“In light of the activities that occurred after the events of April 17-18, 2024, we further request that you retain a presence on campus through at least May 17, 2024 to maintain order and ensure encampments are not reestablished,” Shafik wrote.

Columbia’s commencement is scheduled for May 15. An estimated 15,000 students are set to graduate, the university has said.

Someone hid in Hamilton Hall to allow others in before takeover, Columbia says

A person hid inside Columbia University’s Hamilton Hall yesterday to later let protesters in to take over the building, Columbia’s president said in a letter to the NYPD asking for assistance.

The NYPD has moved onto campus, and officers were seen entering Hamilton Hall, which was taken over and barricaded early this morning.

“The building was closed at the time the students entered. An individual hid in the building until after it closed and let the other individuals in,” President Minouche Shafik said in a letter asking for police help.

“There were two security guards inside. We were able to secure their release. We believe that while the group who broke into the building includes students, it is led by individuals who are not affiliated with the University,” Shafik wrote.

“The individuals who have occupied Hamilton Hall have vandalized University property and are trespassing,” she said in the letter.

She wrote that "we request the NYPD’s help to clear all individuals from Hamilton Hall and all campus encampments."

Protesters detained outside Hamilton Hall

Several protesters were apprehended outside Hamilton Hall tonight.

Police officers in riot gear were leading protesters, whose hands seemed to be tied behind their backs with zip ties, away from the building.

Early this morning a group of people took over the campus building and barricaded themselves inside.

Columbia University: We were left with no choice

After the NYPD entered campus tonight, Columbia blamed the actions of protesters for the situation.

“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,” the university said in a statement.

Columbia said it asked the NYPD to intervene.

“We believe that the group that broke into and occupied the building is led by individuals who are not affiliated with the University,” it said.

Police went on campus shortly after 9 p.m., it said.

People who occupied Columbia’s Hamilton Hall face burglary charge, NYPD says

Those inside Hamilton Hall will be charged with third-degree burglary, criminal mischief and trespassing, an NYPD official said at a news conference this evening before officers arrived on campus.

Mayor Eric Adams and others blamed outside agitators unaffiliated with Columbia for some of the destructive protests and urged students and protesters to leave.

NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban said that “what we saw last night and into today is not acceptable.”

“We have seen professional, external actors getting involved in these protests, including the occupation of a university building,” he said.

Those in the encampments, not in the hall, could be charged with trespassing and disorderly conduct, police said.

Lights coming back on in Hamilton Hall

Lights could be seen coming back on in Hamilton Hall as NYPD officers made their way into the occupied building from the back.

More than a dozen officers entered the building from the ground. Other officers had entered the building through a second-story window.

Police use ramp to access 2nd-floor window

The NYPD appears to be using a vehicle with a ramp to get a second-floor window of Hamilton Hall.

An officer with a ballistic shield was against the window, and others were shining flashlights inside.

Protesters screamed “Shame on you!” and “Fall!” as the officer entered.

A line of officers then used the ramp to enter the building.

A group that took over the campus building early this morning has barricaded itself inside.

Protesters outside campus placed in zip ties

Just before New York police officers entered campus, officers began warning protesters outside that they would be arrested if they did not disperse.

And shortly after the warning, several protesters were seen being placed in zip ties.

As officers warned the group to disperse, some members lifted police barricades to try to prevent officers from entering a protest outside the gates of the university.

Police operation at Columbia has started

New York police have entered the Columbia campus.

"The operation at Columbia University has commenced,” police said shortly after 9 p.m.

Protesters moved barricades after NYPD tells crowd to disperse

Protesters moved bicycle rack-style barricades after police near Columbia University warned crowds to disperse.

Police have moved in and are in the street with riot helmets on, video showed. They are by the gate closest to Hamilton Hall.

Columbia sends letter to city asking for NYPD help

Columbia University has sent a letter to the city of New York asking for assistance, which will lawfully allow the NYPD to enter and make lawful arrests, two senior city officials said. 

Sirens ring out in area around Columbia

Tavleen Tarrant

For nearly 10 minutes, sirens have been heard near Columbia's Morningside Heights campus.

Students have been warned to shelter in place, and police appear to be preparing to enter the campus on 116th and Amsterdam.

Columbia students told to shelter in place

Emergency management told Columbia students in a text alert to shelter in place “due to heightened activity on the Morningside campus.”

Students were told to avoid the area, according to the alert, which was obtained by NBC New York. It says disciplinary action may result if people don’t comply.

The message suggests the NYPD could move in on protests. Neighboring and affiliated Barnard College also sent an alert about police activity.

Protesters standing firm at university gates

With NYPD officers in riot gear approaching Columbia University’s campus, student protesters appeared undeterred.

About roughly 200 protesters stood outside — and several on top of — the university gates along Amsterdam Avenue and 116th Street, repeating their pleas for the university to divest from Israeli companies.

“We will not move. We will not bend,” they chanted. “The occupation has to end.”

Students urged to 'stay inside'

Outside a gate next to Carman Hall at Columbia, officials warned the crowd to clear the area.

Public safety officials urged students to “stay inside” and “go back into the dorm."

Officers seen in riot gear near Columbia

Video shot in Manhattan near the campus of Columbia University shows police officers in riot gear a few hours after New York City Mayor Eric Adams said a protest there “must end.”

The video was taken at 114th and Broadway, next to the campus.

Adams and NYPD officials said outside agitators with no affiliation with Columbia have co-opted students’ protests against the war in Gaza and have their own agenda.

Police blamed outside groups for a dangerous change in tactics. Protesters with hammers broke into Hamilton Hall and barricaded it early this morning.

NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban said earlier that “right now” there is no timetable but that if Columbia asked the NYPD for assistance, it was ready to help.

The mood at Columbia

Natasha Bracken

David K. Li

As the night grows darker, people at Columbia and outside who have seen police officers mass and barricades go up wait to see how the night will unfold. 

Chanting continues at time, and there’s speculation among the crowd about when — not whether — police will take action.

A crowd gathering at the barricade on 113th is chanting, "Free Palestine," while Broadway, which is parallel to campus, is completely barricaded with no foot or motor traffic.

Faculty says they've 'been shut out' of negotiations

Joe Howley, a Columbia classics professor, says faculty members have been trying to work with the administration and students to find a resolution.

“Faculty have tried all day to get involved in this and resolve the situation," Howley said. "We have been shut out.”

Jelani Cobb, the dean of the journalism school, said attempts to restart negotiations tonight are “dead.”

NYPD says outside agitators could make it hard for police to enter buildings

The NYPD’s deputy commissioner of intelligence and counterterrorism says the concern with the outside group at Columbia is that it is using and teaching the types of tactics that will make it difficult for police to enter buildings and that it appears the group is “preparing for a fight” if police do enter.

Deputy Commissioner Rebecca Weiner told NBC News that the group of outside actors can best be described as anarchists who, as she said at this evening's news conference, are well-known to the NYPD.

She said they do not profess any particular ideology or political interest — they’re there to create confusion and engage, perhaps violently, with police.

She said it was the appearance of such actors — described as a handful in number — that led to the NYPD’s growing concern for what is happening at Columbia and what could happen if the schools asks the NYPD to act.

Police presence growing outside Columbia

In addition to a growing number of officers who have arrived near Columbia's campus, trucks have arrived carrying barricades.

Police are lining up at Broadway and 116th.

Columbia hasn't asked NYPD to step in, police say

The protests at Columbia have been taken over by outside agitators, and students should leave now, New York City Mayor Eric Adams said tonight.

“They are actively creating serious public safety issues,” the mayor said. “Maybe some of the students don’t understand what they are involved in.”

“We urge those and everyone else violating Columbia’s order to leave the area and leave the area now. And if you are a parent or guardian of a student, please call your child and urge them to leave the area before the situation escalates,” Adams said.

Police said early this morning when protesters broke windows at Columbia’s Hamilton Hall and took it over that officers were outside the Manhattan campus but not on the grounds.

Police said tonight that Columbia has not asked the NYPD to intervene.

“I’m urging every student and protester to walk away from this situation now, and continue your advocacy through other means,” Adams said.

“We cannot and will not allow what should be a peaceful gathering to turn into a violent spectacle that serves no purpose,” he said. “We cannot wait until this situation becomes even more serious. This must end now.”

Mayor: Columbia protests have been co-opted by ‘professional outside agitators’

New York City Mayor Eric Adams said that what should have been a peaceful protest at Columbia University “has basically been co-opted by professional outside agitators” who want to sow chaos.

Some of the external actors are known to police, said Rebecca Weiner, deputy commissioner for intelligence and counterterrorism, and others are seen in clear “black bloc” attire.

“What should have been a peaceful protest that is part of the constitutional rights of Americans has clearly been co-opted,” Adams said.

Early this morning, protesters with hammers broke windows at Hamilton Hall and took over the building, using furniture and other items to barricade the building.

Tear gas deployed on University of South Florida protesters

Doha Madani

Protesters at the University of South Florida in Tampa were hit with tear gas by officers on campus, according to NBC affiliate WFLA.

WFLA reported that protesters were warned at 4:50 p.m. ET that they must disband or be subjected to tear gas and rubber bullets. Tear gas was deployed 25 minutes later, and at least two people were detained.

Video feed from the news station showed students lined up using umbrellas as shields and others stood with their arms locked in a circle.

USF's student newspaper, The Oracle, reported that several protesters were arrested yesterday . One protester tried to build a tent and was stopped by university police.

NYPD's presence appears to be growing outside Columbia gates

Earlier this afternoon, pro-Palestinian demonstrators began gathering in front of Columbia University’s Amsterdam Avenue entrance, which is currently the only entry point to the university’s Morningside Heights campus.

Only residents of the Morningside Heights dorms as well as essential staff have access to the Morningside Heights campus.

Over the last hour, NYPD’s on-site presence outside the gates appears to have grown considerably. 

Brown students agree to end encampment on promise they may present divestment cast to trustees

Student protesters at Brown University agreed to end their encampment today after assurances that they will be permitted to present their case on divestment to the school's trustees in the fall, university officials said.

Brown President Christina H. Paxson announced the agreement in a news release, saying that Paxson will ask the school's advisory committee to provide a recommendation on divestment by the end of September. The matter will then be brought to a vote at the October meeting of the corporation, Brown's governing body.

Additionally, a group of students will meet with five members of the governing body in May. Paxson said in a statement that she could not condone the encampment, which violated policy, but appreciated the "sincere efforts" from students to avoid escalation.

“The devastation and loss of life in the Middle East has prompted many to call for meaningful change, while also raising real issues about how best to accomplish this,” Paxson wrote. “Brown has always prided itself on resolving differences through dialog, debate and listening to each other."

Columbia students appear to be moving out amid protests from both sides of the campus gates

As throngs of protesters chanted in unison on Amsterdam Avenue, one group on the public sidewalk and others behind the campus' locked gates, some Columbia University students squeezed by with luggage to exit through the public safety checkpoint.

One student walked through the security checkpoint with cardboard boxes.

Yesterday marked Columbia's last day of classes, and officials announced over the weekend that final exams would have remote options. For many, that means an opportunity to go home early as the campus has moved into a strict resident-only lockdown today.

In the backdrop of the somewhat unconventional move-out, student protesters inside the gate gathered to chant with demonstrators who gathered on the sidewalk in solidarity.

"Down, down with occupation," the groups chanted. "Up, up with liberation."

NYPD and mayor to hold news conference on Columbia protest

New York City officials are planning a news conference scheduled for 6 p.m. tonight to address the Columbia University protests.

Mayor Eric Adams and NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban are slated to speak to reporters. No additional details were provided.

Suspended student wishes she could still be on campus protesting

Mirna Alsharif

Marie Adele Grosso, a sophomore at Barnard College who was arrested and suspended following her participation in the encampment at Columbia University, is continuing to show support for the Palestinian people outside campus gates.

"Palestine has always been a very important issue for me, it's a humanitarian issue," Grosso said. "We all should be doing our part to support it in any way, and this is one opportunity to do the small things we can to support."

Grosso said she would be at the encampment right now if she hadn't been suspended, adding that Columbia's administration is "not negotiating in good faith on this matter," prioritizing finances over "listening to students and caring about an active genocide."

"I think suspending students for peacefully protesting is absolutely unacceptable and shows that they are having a violent solution to a nonviolent action," Grosso said.

Addressing concerns that the protests at Columbia have been labeled antisemitic, Grosso said it's important to recognize the difference between anti-Zionism and antisemitism.

"The state of Israel does not represent Jewish people, they are separate," Grosso said. "There are Jewish people in Israel, but it does not represent all Jewish people."

Protester proudly waves Palestinian flag from Columbia rooftop

A protester was seen waving a Palestinian flag this afternoon from atop the roof of the Columbia University building that a group of students took over overnight.

Stop AAPI Hate condemns 'violent suppression' of Pro-Palestinian student protesters

The National coalition and hate-incident reporting center Stop AAPI Hate condemned the arrest of hundreds of pro-Palestinian student protestors at college campuses across the country, describing the actions from universities and law enforcement as “violent suppression.” 

In a recent statement , Manjusha P. Kulkarni, co-founder of Stop AAPI Hate, said the organization was “alarmed and angered” by the treatment of student protesters. Citing the law enforcement use of chemical irritants for crowd control last week at Emory University in Atlanta, Kulkarni called on universities to “stand by their own values of academic freedom.” 

“We ask administrators to stop targeting students who express pro-Palestinian views, as USC recently did when it barred its South Asian American valedictorian, Asna Tabassum, from speaking at graduation,” Kulkarni said in the statement. “Most urgently, we call on universities to remove law enforcement from sites of peaceful protest and cease the use of violence on demonstrators. All students — Asian American and Pacific Islander, Muslim, Jewish, Palestinian and otherwise — have the right to safely and peacefully stand up for their views.”

Protesters gather outside campus near Hamilton Hall and are joined by students from inside

Dozens of demonstrators gathered outside Columbia's campus on Amsterdam Avenue at a locked gate near Hamilton Hall in solidarity with student protesters.

Refrains of "Disclose. Divest. We will not rest until you divest," were chanted as they stood on the public sidewalk outside the university. A group of students inside the gates walked over and joined, chanting, "We will honor all our martyrs."

As they stood at the gate, they clapped and shouted, "When Gaza is under attack, what do we do? Stand up fight back."

Encampment organizers say another group is behind building takeover

Leaders of the student groups behind the Columbia University encampment — CUAD, SJP and JVP — said they were not given a heads-up about this morning's takeover of Hamilton Hall and described those behind the building break-in as an “autonomous” group. 

Maryam Alwan, who was arrested and suspended when Columbia University brought NYPD to campus earlier this month, described suspensions that went out this morning as “arbitrary” and alleged it included one student who was not in New York City yesterday when the deadline went out. 

“It just feels like this university is so far beyond the law and their own policies and regulations that all of us have no idea what could come,” Alwan said. “We might be targeted by association.” 

A student, who would not identify themselves out of safety concerns, told reporters earlier that Palestinian refugee Mahmoud Khalil was suspended this morning and barred from campus, which Alwan also confirmed. Khalil has spoken to media in recent weeks and had been participating in negotiations but said he was not part of the encampment, because arrest or discipline could risk his visa as an international student. 

NBC News cameras saw Khalil and another student negotiator denied access to campus today.

Getting supplies inside Columbia's barricaded building

Organizers are getting supplies, such as food and water, to protesters inside Columbia's Hamilton Hall in a makeshift delivery system via ropes.

Dozens of protesters took over the building early this morning. The university has threatened to expel students who remain inside.

Student organizer accuses Columbia of targeting Palestinian students for suspensions

Marlene Lenthang

A student protest organizer said that since last night, Columbia University has targeted at least three Palestinian students for suspension, allegedly "regardless of their involvement" in the encampment protest — including one involved in Columbia University Apartheid Divest (CUAD) negotiations.

Columbia has not provided details about the suspended students.

The student organizer, who declined to share her name at an afternoon news conference, said Hamilton Hall was taken over by “autonomous protesters” who are in solidarity with CUAD’s demands for the university to divest and for financial transparency regarding its investments and holdings. 

She said this morning's takeover of the campus building was met with mass support by students.

It's not clear how many students have been suspended since the school's deadline yesterday to vacate the encampment, but the organizer gave a rough estimate of at least 20.

“I don’t think we have any plans on stopping any time soon," she said about the three sites of ongoing campus protests.

Columbia students and staffers disrupted by shuttered campus

The partial lockdown at Columbia took many students and staffers by surprise as they were unexpectedly turned away from campus today.

“This is my job. So yeah, it’s kind of inconvenient,” lab tech David Johnson said after being denied entry at 116th Street and Amsterdam Avenue. “Up to now, everything seemed normal, just having to swipe in."

Physics doctoral candidate Varun Lochab will have to work without access to some of his material. 

“I would like to go up my office to do my work, so this is a problem,” Lochab said after being turned away.  “It’s not the students (protesters at fault). I feel like the administration should be doing more to de-escalate and not escalate the situation," he said.

A school spokesperson said that access to campus was limited as a "safety measure."

Columbia students still occupying campus are being suspended, school spokesperson says

Students occupying parts of Columbia University's campus are being suspended, a school spokesperson said today. 

“We regret that protesters have chosen to escalate the situation through their actions. Our top priority is restoring safety and order on our campus,” school spokesperson Ben Chang said. “Protesters have chosen to escalate to an untenable situation — vandalizing property, breaking doors and windows, and blockading entrances — and we are following through with the consequences we outlined yesterday.”

Students still occupying Hamilton Hall face expulsion, he said.

He noted that protesters were informed that their participation in the pro-Palestinian encampment on campus violated “numerous university policies” and they were offered a 2 p.m. deadline to leave and be allowed to complete the semester.

"Students who did not commit to the terms we offered are now being suspended," Chang said.

The students had voted amongst themselves to stay after the school point-blank said it would not divest from Israel .

“Students who did not commit to the terms we offered are now being suspended,” Chang said. “Those students will be restricted from all academic and recreational spaces and may only access their individual residence. Seniors will be ineligible to graduate.”

“This is about responding to the actions of the protesters, not their cause,” he added.

President Biden condemns hate speech, says protests should be 'peaceful and lawful'

Monica Alba

Biden “has stood against repugnant, Antisemitic smears and violent rhetoric his entire life. He condemns the use of the term ‘intifada,’ as he has the other tragic and dangerous hate speech displayed in recent days,” White House spokesperson Andrew Bates said today.

While the president “respects the right to free expression,” protests should be “peaceful and lawful,” the statement said. 

“Forcibly taking over buildings is not peaceful — it is wrong. And hate speech and hate symbols have no place in America,” Bates added. 

The comment comes after Columbia’s Hamilton Hall was occupied by protesters overnight and a banner that said “INTIFADA” and “STUDENT INTIFADA” — an Arabic word meaning uprising or rebellion — was visible flying from the building.

There were two Palestinian intifadas — in 1987, and between 2000 and 2005 — which saw widespread civil disobedience and violence that was met with a strong Israeli military response. In the second intifada, more than 4,000 Palestinians and 1,000 Israelis died, according to  the UN , which tallied deaths until 2007. 

Since then, the phrase has become part of the lexicon of pro-Palestinian protesters across the world, while different groups interpret the term differently. The Anti-Defamation League  refers  to intifada as a “reference to violent Palestinian uprisings against Israel, while the Council on American-Islamic Relations  says  it is used as “the Arabic word for uprising.” CAIR says using intifada as a term referencing “killing Jews” is a “false claim. 

Columbia offers $80 flex plan for dining plan holders

Columbia University on Tuesday added an $80 flex sum for dining plan holders “in light of campus restrictions impacting access to several Columbia Dining locations.”

Plan holders can use the flex at off-campus locations or for online food delivery. 

Columbia Dining spaces are still operating with adjustments. The university said: “Dining Plan Holders who are unable to access the South Lawn may also dine at Grace Dodge Dining Hall at Teachers College.”

Columbia students attempt to block protesters from Hamilton Hall

Footage taken from Columbia’s campus shows some students attempting to block protesters from Hamilton Hall overnight. 

One video showed protesters form a human chain around an individual to prevent them from entering Hamilton Hall. 

The person, who was in a polo, said, “That is 100% assault. Is someone recording this?” though no assault was visible in the footage as he pushed against the chain. 

Over 1,200 arrested from pro-Palestinian campus protests so far

There have been over 1,200 arrests made so far related to pro-Palestinian protests and encampments on college campuses across the country, according to a tally by NBC News.

Some of the latest numbers include:

• Seventy-nine people arrested at UT Austin protests yesterday — though it’s not clear how many were students. Most were charged with criminal trespass, one with an additional charge of obstructing a highway or passageway and one charged with interfering with public duties, according to the Travis County sheriff’s office. 
• Three arrested at the University of South Florida's Tampa campus — one student, one employee and one person unaffiliated with the school.
• Twenty-five people arrested from Cal Poly Humboldt early Tuesday as protests at Siemens Hall and Nelson Hall East were cleared by law enforcement.

Jiachuan Wu

Nigel Chiwaya

No arrests after vandalism and protest at Columbia last night

The New York Police Department received several 911 calls from Columbia University last night as a protest occurred at a school building, according to the department's chief spokesperson. The NYPD, paired with Columbia school safety, determined that there were no physical threats to anyone and no lives in danger. 

There were acts of criminal mischief in and around the building, but Columbia did not want the NYPD to enter and make arrests or charge any individuals for that mischief, which included vandalism, the spokesperson said.

At an unrelated press conference this morning, NYPD Chief Jeffrey Maddrey said: "As of right now the NYPD is always ready but we will not be going onto Columbia’s property without a specific request from them," noting "unless there’s imminent danger, imminent emergency, where we have to go on the property."

Media not allowed on Columbia’s campus today

Access to Columbia University’s campus is restricted today “as a safety measure,” a school spokesperson said. 

“Media access will be restored when safety conditions change,” the spokesperson said. 

Barnard College, which is affiliated with Columbia, also moved to Barnard ID access only, barring guests from campus and canceling all in-person events.

Police make arrests, clear out UConn encampment

Arrests were made Tuesday morning at the University of Connecticut's encampment protest. 

There were about 20 tents in the encampment as of yesterday afternoon, and protesters ignored school warnings take down the tents, a school spokesperson said. 

“UConn Police directed them four times on Tuesday morning to remove the tents and disperse, and they again repeatedly ignored the directives," university spokesperson Stephanie Reitz said. "Officers then entered the site to remove the tents and tarps, and to arrest those who refused compliance." It's not immediately clear how many people were arrested. NBC News is out to UConn Police for comment.

It comes after the school on Friday shared guidelines with protest organizers that such protests are permitted but "safety, health, and basic community standards need to be recognized and maintained, both in the interest of those who are gathering as well as other community members who may be impacted."

Yale encampment ends peacefully after warning

Patrick Smith

Unlike at several other campuses this morning, the pro-Palestinian protest encampment at Yale ended peacefully in the last few hours with no arrests made, the college said in a statement .

The encampment was set up Sunday, and college administrators had told protesters that it violated university policies and was disrupting campus life.

"All the protesters chose to leave the encampment, and the university is in the process of clearing tents and other items from the area," the statement said.

The college said some protesters, however, remained on surrounding streets.

One charged with battery for allegedly spitting on a police officer at the University of Florida

One person was charged with battery on a law enforcement officer, for allegedly spitting on a police officer as a protest was broken up at the University of Florida last night.

They were among nine people arrested by University of Florida Police and Florida Highway Patrol, the university's director of public affairs, Cynthia Roldan Hernandez, said in a statement. Other charges include failure to obey a lawful command, resistance without violence, and trespassing after warning.

Earlier, a university spokesman told protesters they would not be treated like children and that the university is "not a daycare."

The university shared a list prohibited activities on campus, which includes camping, sleeping and erecting unmanned signs.

Columbia alumni write letter to university president: ‘Enough is enough’

Over 1,000 alumni from Columbia University wrote a letter to the school’s president, Minouche Shafik, yesterday demanding the removal of “illegal encampments” and to “immediately restore safety for all students.”

“Enough is enough. Antisemitism is never acceptable. Ever,” the letter said. 

The letter pointed out how over the past week, suspended students defied decrees by returning to the encampment and students allegedly tried to intimidate a Jewish student in a “zionist free zone.”

The letter also criticized Shafik’s letter to the community yesterday that demanded protesters clear out by 2 p.m. — an order that protesters resisted, saying it “did not meet our expectations from leadership.”

“The current approach of placating the agents of disruption is demonstrably not working. We call on Columbia’s leadership to fulfill their solemn obligation to every member of the Columbia community and take meaningful action now,” the letter said. 

Meanwhile protesters say they’ll stay put as they demand the school disclose all of its holdings and investments, and divest from weapons manufacturing and from holdings in businesses that profit from Israel’s invasion of Gaza.

Speaker Johnson to announce crackdown on 'virus of antisemitism' on college campuses

As pro-Palestinian protests continue on colleges across the nation, House Speaker Mike Johnson will later today announce what his team call a "House-wide crackdown on the virus of antisemitism spreading throughout college campuses."

Without specifying what measures this will include, a short press release said that House Republicans would "expand a wide-ranging investigation focused on holding accountable college and university administrators who fail at their core responsibility: keeping their students safe."

As campus protests were gaining momentum last week, Johnson called on Columbia's president, Minouche Shafik, to stand down if she couldn't quell the growing encampment at Columbia's Morningside Heights campus.

"As speaker of the House, I’m committing today that the Congress will not be silent as Jewish students are expected to run for their lives and stay home from their classes hiding in fear," he said last week.

University protests echoed in Lebanon and France

Max Butterworth

Students waved Palestinian flags during a rally in support of Palestinians near the entrance of the Institute of Political Studies building in Grenoble, France today.Lebanese students also gathered to wave a giant Palestinian flag at the main entrance of the American University of Beirut.

Protesters at Columbia University occupy a building on campus

George Solis

Demonstrations continue to escalate at Columbia University as protesters occupy a building on campus and bar the doors. This comes as the school started suspending students who refused to leave an encampment after a deadline passed.

Barriers erected at Columbia's Morningside campus, as access limited to a single entry-point

As of this morning, there is only one way in, or out, of Columbia University's Morningside Heights campus — and only students who live there and essential maintenance staff are allowed through.

The college's public safety team said in an update that the only access point is now at 116th Street and Amsterdam Gate. Barriers have been erected at the usual entrance at 116th and Broadway.

"This access restriction will remain in place until circumstances allow otherwise," the update said.

Earlier, the college urged students to stay away from campus in light of the ongoing protests.

Police break up protest at UNC-Chapel Hill

Police were seen removing tents and protesters from an encampment at the University of North Carolina's Chapel Hill from 6 a.m. this morning, according to footage shot by NBC affiliate WRAL of Raleigh .

WRAL reporters saw people with their hands zip-tied being led away and placed in police vehicles. The school said Monday that anyone camping within view of the administration building faced arrest.

The footage showed police officers scuffling with protesters as they dismantled tents and removed tables, air beds and signs.

The UNC-Chapel Hill Students for Justice in Palestine group shared footage on its Instagram account of protesters linking arms to prevent arrests. But it then said after 6.30 a.m. that all members of the "inner encampment" were arrested.

'This is not a daycare': University of Florida promises action against protesters after arrests

The University of Florida said protesters who broke the rules face being banned from campus for three years suspended from the college, in a message that warned they would not be treated like children.

At least nine were arrested at the University of Florida campus in Gainesville last night, while three were arrested at the University of South Florida campus in Tampa, according to NBC affiliate WPTV of West Palm Beach .

"This is not complicated: The University of Florida is not a daycare, and we do not treat protesters like children — they knew the rules, they broke the rules, and they'll face the consequences." spokesman Steve Orlando said in a statement.

He said the college had "patiently told protesters — many of whom are outside agitators — that they were able to exercise their right to free speech and assembly."

But he added that this did not extend to rule-breaking and that those responsible had ignored warnings.

Protesters compare Hamilton Hall takeover to 1968 occupation against Vietnam War

Chantal Da Silva

Protesters at Columbia University have compared their takeover of Hamilton Hall to past movements that saw students occupy the storied building, including the historic 1968 protests against the Vietnam War.

In a statement outlining their demands, demonstrators said the building's takeover represented the "next generation of the 1968, 1985 and 1992 student movements which Columbia once repressed, yet celebrates today."

On its website, Columbia notes how New York City police stormed the campus back in 1968, arresting more than 700 people in an event that "dogged Columbia for years." Today, the "1968 crisis" sits at the top of the school's list of "history and traditions" on its libraries website .

In addition to the 1968 protests against the Vietnam War, demonstrators also referenced demonstrations at the site in 1985, when protesters occupied Hamilton Hall demanding the university divest from companies doing business in South Africa during apartheid and in 1992, when protesters took over the hall rallying against the school's plans to turn the Audubon Ballroom, where Malcolm X was assassinated in 1965, into a biomedical research center.

New protest encampment established at Columbia

Despite warnings of suspension for any students involved in the encampment, pro-Palestinian protesters appear to have set up another one in a nearby spot on the main campus.

At least 17 tents were on Lewisohn Lawn, outside Lewisohn Hall, at 3 a.m. this morning. That's a short walk from Hamilton Hall, which protesters have occupied.

Princeton building briefly occupied by protesters as 13 arrested

A campus building at Princeton University was briefly occupied by pro-Palestinian protesters late last night, before 13 people involved with the incident were arrested, the college said.

Princeton President Chris Eisgruber said the protesters occupied Clio Hall, where the graduate school is based. Of those arrested, five were undergraduates, six were graduate students, one was a postdoctoral researcher and another was not affiliated with the university, he said.

All have been banned from campus and the students could face suspension or expulsion.

Eisgruber said staff had found the incident upsetting and called it "completely unacceptable."

"Everyone on this campus needs to feel safe and to be safe. Faculty, students, and staff must be able to conduct University business without disruption, harassment, or threat," he said.

The incident had been resolved, he said, by the university's "free expression facilitators" and the Princeton Police Department.

Columbia urges students to avoid campus after Hamilton Hall occupation

Elizabeth Maline

Students should avoid Columbia University's main campus in Morningside Heights today, the college said in an email to students, hours after pro-Palestinian protesters took control of the Hamilton Hall building.

"In light of of the protest activity on campus, members of the University community who can avoid coming to the Morningside campus today (Tuesday, April 30) should do so," the message said.

"The safety of every single member of this community is paramount," it said.

At least 6 arrested at Tulane University but encampment continues through the night

A police operation at Tulane University in New Orleans arrested six people late last night, after the college warned students that an encampment would be considered illegal, but a protest encampment there remains in place.

Some students have also been suspended, the university said in a statement early today, while some campus buildings will be shut today and classes held remotely.

The university stressed that "the overwhelming number of these protestors are unaffiliated with Tulane."

"We want to be clear: We do not condone and will not allow trespassing, hate speech, antisemitism and bias against religious or ethnic groups, harassment, intimidation, violence, and other criminal acts on any of our campuses," college president Michael A. Fitts said.

The university said in an earlier statement that 40 Tulane University police officers were involved in removing tents from an "unregistered and unsanctioned" protest, which was part of the ongoing nationwide pro-Palestinian solidarity movement.

The six arrested people, who have not been identified, are accused of crimes include trespassing, battery on an officer and resisting arrest, the statement said.

The university said freedom of speech was "foundational to our society and a bedrock tenet of universities," but said it would not tolerate criminal behavior.

Israel waits for Hamas response to latest proposal in Gaza cease-fire talks

Raf Sanchez

TEL AVIV — Israel is waiting for Hamas to provide its response to the current cease-fire proposal before sending its own negotiators to Cairo, an Israeli official told NBC News this morning. 

The official said that in an effort to show flexibility in the talks, Israel had agreed to allow larger numbers of Palestinian civilians to return to northern Gaza than previously countenanced. The question of civilians going back to the north has been a key sticking point in the talks.  

Hamas officials were in Cairo yesterday to discuss the proposal with Egypt. Bassem Naim, a senior Hamas official, tells NBC News that delegation has now left the Egyptian capital.

The U.S. is trying to secure a new truce deal that would see the release of hostages and head off a possible Israeli ground assault on the southern Gaza city of Rafah. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is in the Middle East leading a diplomatic push.

Student protesters fly 'Intifada' flag from occupied Hamilton Hall

Among the flags flying from Columbia University's Hamilton Hall early morning was one emblazoned with "INTIFADA" and "STUDENT INTIFADA," an Arabic word meaning uprising or rebellion that has been used by Palestinians for decades.

There were two Palestinian intifadas — in 1987, and between 2000 and 2005 — which saw widespread civil disobedience and violence that was met with a strong Israeli military response.

But the phrase has since become part of the lexicon of pro-Palestinian protesters across the world, sometimes written or chanted as "Globalize the Intifada."

In London, nine people were arrested in December for displaying the phrase on a banner outside a building police believe was being used as a squat.

Police arrest 17 at University of Utah protest overnight

Police arrested 17 protesters at the University of Utah late last night, after hundreds had picketed administrators as part of the national pro-Palestinian protest movement.

The arrests were made by 11:45 p.m. last night, the university said in a statement , after multiple law enforcement authorities moved into disperse the protest after 11 p.m. The university had warned protesters they were breaking both state regulations and its own rules.

Officers removed about a dozen tents, as well as stashes of water, food and toilet paper, the university said, adding that some voluntarily took down their tent.

"Campuses serve as a stage and forum for not just students, but for members of the community who want their voice to be heard. We honor all voices, but the right to speech on our campus must occur within the confines of state law and campus policies," Keith Squires, the university’s chief safety officer said in the statement.

The university said the final exams taking place this week will continue today.

Vending machines, tables and barriers used to block Hamilton Hall

Student protesters at Columbia University use a variety of items to block doorways inside Hamilton Hall in the early hours of this morning.

In one photo, a group can be seen shoving what appears to be a campus vending machine and a stack of chairs against a door.

Another group of balaclava wearing men raise a large table on it's end to block an entrance, with a crowbar also discarded on the floor.

Elsewhere, students dressed in Columbia University clothing, wear blue medical gloves as they transfer metal barriers inside Hamilton Hall.

Human chain blocking entrance to Hamilton Hall

Protesters formed a human chain outside Hamilton Hall, which was occupied after midnight today, as the crowd sang "we shall not be moved."

Student protesters have organized themselves into “platoons” based on how willing they are to be arrested, one student on campus who asked not to be named for fear of reprisals told NBC News early today. The groups are called "red rolls" and "yellow rolls."

University staff grapple with protesters inside Hamilton Hall

A maintenance worker confronts demonstrators attempting to barricade themselves inside Hamilton Hall at Columbia University in New York City in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

Student protest group confirms Hamilton Hall occupation, warns authorities against using force

A student protest group at Columbia confirmed its members had "reclaimed" the Hamilton Hall building just after midnight and would continue there until Columbia concedes to the movement's demands, which include cutting ties with Israeli institutions.

Columbia University Apartheid Divest said on X: "Liberators acting in solidarity with Palestine continue to hold themselves to a higher standard than Columbia."

The statement addressed Columbia's administrators and trustees and referenced deadly crackdowns on anti-Vietnam war rallies, warning them not to "incite another Kent or Jackson State by bringing soldiers and police officers with weapons onto our campus: Students' blood will be on your hands."

Protesters rename Hamilton Hall as 'Hind's Hall,' after slain 6-year-old Palestinian girl

Protesters at Columbia University stormed a building on campus overnight, renaming the storied Hamilton Hall as "Hind's Hall" in honor of Hind Rajab — the six-year-old girl who was killed in Israel's offensive in Gaza after begging first responders to save her life in harrowing calls later published online.

Hind's story sparked outrage around the world earlier this year after she was found dead in a vehicle in Gaza City with several of her loved ones, who were also killed.

She had been missing for 12 days after pleading with first responders to save her, with phone call recordings showing a frightened Hind imploring rescuers to “come take me. Please, will you come?”

Her mother told NBC News of her devastation after her daughter's body was found in February. The remains of two paramedics dispatched to save her were also found in a burnt out ambulance nearby.

Read more about Hind Rajab

Columbia protesters break windows and occupy Hamilton Hall, fly Palestinian flag

Dozens of protesters gained entry to Columbia University's historic Hamilton Hall in the early hours of this morning, smashing windows and flying pro-Palestinian flags from the windows.

Protesters invoked the famous anti-Vietnam War protests of 1968, when students occupied the same hall. "Let's finish what they did in 1968," one said. "This building is now being liberated," said another.

Protesters unfurled a homemade flag declaring they had re-named it "HIND'S HALL," in honor of 6-year-old Hind Rajab, who was found dead in Gaza in February.

Protesters break windows at Columbia University hours after school starts suspending student demonstrators

Protesters at Columbia University broke windows at the Manhattan campus’ Hamilton Hall early Tuesday, hours after the school began suspending students who defied a deadline to leave a pro-Palestinian camp set up to protest the war in Gaza.

NBC News could not confirm how many people were inside Hamilton Hall, but the university’s student newspaper, the Columbia Spectator, reported that dozens of protesters had occupied the building.

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University protests

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April 26, 2024 - Protests at Columbia and other schools escalate

By Elizabeth Wolfe, Dalia Faheid, Aya Elamroussi, Nouran Salahieh, Samantha Delouya, Aditi Sangal and Tori B. Powell, CNN

Our live coverage of the protests has moved here .

NYPD says "outside agitators" at Columbia are "trying to hijack a peaceful protest"

From CNN’s Josh Campbell

"Outside agitators" at Columbia are "trying to hijack a peaceful protest," New York Police Department Deputy Commissioner of Operations Kaz Daughtry said Friday night.

“What may have started as a group of Columbia students wanting to express their constitutional right to protest has drawn crowds of outside agitators who are trying to hijack a peaceful protest and turn it something far more sinister,” Daughtry  posted on X.

The commissioner added the NYPD has seen the same groups of “professional protestors” demonstrating nightly “at various demonstrations regardless of the message.”

Daughtry reiterated the NYPD is ready to intervene and address issues on Columbia’s campus as soon as the university’s president gives them the go-ahead.

Pro-Palestinian protests continue at campuses across the US. Here’s the latest

Pro-Palestinian protests continued at major US universities through Friday evening decrying Israel's bombardment of Gaza.

Throughout the week, several schools called police on protesters, leading to the arrests of hundreds across the country. Protesters have demanded schools divest campus funds from entities connected to Israel.

Israeli attacks in Gaza have killed more than 34,000 Palestinians, according to the enclave's health ministry. Hamas’ deadly October 7 attack on Israel killed about 1,200 people.

College administrators are facing increasing pressure from lawmakers to rein in protests. At Columbia - the epicenter of the demonstrations - the school's senate passed a resolution late Friday to investigate the university leadership’s handling of the protests. 

Here are the latest developments:

Arizona State University: Police at Arizona State University arrested three people Friday on suspicion of trespassing "in connection with setting up an unauthorized encampment," a university spokesperson said.

Barnard College: The school said it reached resolutions with “nearly all students who were previously placed on interim suspension” for participating in the protest encampment on Columbia’s campus.

Columbia University: The university banned a student spokesperson for the Columbia University Apartheid Divest coalition who said in January “Zionists don’t deserve to live.” He subsequently apologized.

Denver campuses: At a joint campus for the University of Colorado Denver, Community College of Denver and Metropolitan State University of Denver, around 40 of the approximately 100 people who set up a pro-Palestinian encampment were arrested Friday, the campus said in a statement.

Emory University: Faculty gathered on campus to express concerns about the violent arrests that took place on campus on Thursday, with tenured professors calling for the university's president, Gregory Fenves, to step down over the decision to call in state and local police to clear out the protesters. 

George Washington University: The university said Friday that any student who remains in University Yard may be placed on temporary suspension and administratively barred from campus.

Ohio State University: A total of 36 demonstrators were arrested Thursday night after refusing dispersal orders, according to a preliminary report from the university.

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill: More than 75 students gathered Friday to set up an encampment at the school, demanding the university divest from corporations that invest in Israel and its military operations.

University of Southern California: School president Carol L. Folt said  in a statement the campus has become unsafe and the university will launch an inquiry and take action to protect all USC students, faculty and staff.

University of Texas at Austin: The school has placed the Palestine Solidarity Committee on "interim suspension." The group organized Wednesday's event, where over 50 arrests ensued.

Virginia Tech: School officials on Friday issued a statement about an encampment on campus, saying they told protesters the event does not comply with university policy.

Yale University: One letter from the  Faculty for Justice in Palestine  organization criticized student arrests this week and said faculty are prepared to stage walkouts and boycott Yale’s graduation ceremonies. Another letter  denounced Yale's administration  for failing "in your responsibility to protect the Jewish students, staff and faculty at Yale." 

Around 40 people were arrested for establishing encampment at joint campus of 3 universities in Denver

From CNN's Sarah Dewberry, Lucy Kafanov and Taylor Romine

Around 40 of the approximately 100 people who set up a pro-Palestinian encampment at the Auraria Campus in Denver were arrested Friday, the campus said in a statement. 

The campus  is home to  the University of Colorado Denver, Community College of Denver as well as the Metropolitan State University of Denver. The arrests were made by Auraria Higher Education Center Police and the Denver Police Department.

"While those who gathered at the onset of Thursday’s protest did so peacefully, some participants established an encampment as the demonstration progressed, which violates those policies," a the campus said.

Campus and education department officials directed students to dismantle and leave the encampment, and after "protestors did not comply after numerous written and verbal requests, law enforcement stepped in at approximately 12:30 p.m. on Friday to remove the encampments," the campus statement continued.

Barnard College reaches "resolution" with students placed on interim suspension

From CNN’s Artemis Moshtaghian

Barnard College said it reached resolutions with “nearly all students who were previously placed on interim suspension” for participating in the protest encampment on Columbia’s campus.

The college “immediately restored full access for these students to residence halls, dining facilities, classrooms, and other parts of campus,” according to a statement from the school released Friday.

At least 55 Barnard students were placed on interim suspension for participating in Columbia’s protest encampment, according to a  statement  from Barnard’s Student Government Association. 

Barnard College declined to comment on the number of students suspended.

Columbia's senate passes resolution to investigate administration’s handling of Pro-Palestinian protests

From CNN’s Maria Sole Campinoti

Columbia University's senate voted in favor of a resolution to create a task force to investigate the university leadership's handling of Pro-Palestinian protests on campus, according to documents obtained by CNN.

The resolution passed Friday alleges, among other things, that the administration jeopardized academic freedom, breached privacy and due process of students and faculty members and violated shared governance principles by calling for police intervention on campus, according to documents on the meeting. 

After the investigation, the task force will present its findings and recommendations to the university's senate to determine further actions and take the necessary steps to address the alleged misconduct of the administration, according to the documents. 

Some context: The decision comes after the school and university president Minouche Shafik faced criticism from students, faculty and left-leaning lawmakers after Shafik authorized the New York Police Department to shut down student protests on campus, which have urged school leaders to cut off economic and academic ties to Israel. At the same time, students, religious groups and right-leaning lawmakers have said the administration has failed to stop antisemitism inside Columbia’s campus and at protests outside its gates, CNN  previously reported .

Columbia's senate represents people on campus, including faculty, researchers, students, administration and more, according to the school's website . The body has the authority to make policies on a variety of issues that affect the school.

3 people arrested in connection with setting up an encampment at Arizona State University

From CNN’s Taylor Romine

Police at Arizona State University arrested three people Friday “for trespassing in connection with setting up an unauthorized encampment, in violation of university policy,” a university spokesperson said in a statement to CNN.

“Demonstrations, protests and expressions of free speech are protected at Arizona State University, consistent with the First Amendment. Peaceful expression of views is always acceptable – but demonstrations cannot disrupt university operations,” the statement says.

Encampments, unless they are part of an approved event, are prohibited by the university, the spokesperson said in an earlier statement.

USC president says school became unsafe and that she took steps to protect the community amid protests

From CNN's Stephanie Becker and Nick Watt 

The University of Southern California needed to "act immediately to protect our community" when it came to protests on campus this week, school president Carol L. Folt said  in a statement .

 "This week, Alumni Park became unsafe. No one wants to have people arrested on their campus. Ever," she said. "But, when long-standing safety policies are flagrantly violated, buildings vandalized, DPS directives repeatedly ignored, threatening language shouted, people assaulted, and access to critical academic buildings blocked, we must act immediately to protect our community."

The university has "long-standing protocols that allow for peaceful protesting" and has been working with the school community to ensure they are followed during the school year, Folt said.

"The current pressures and polarization have taken a toll in ways that break my heart," she said. "I know Trojans will do what they have always done: share points of view, listen, search for common ground – and find ways to support each other."

She encouraged anyone in the campus community experiencing harassment or bullying to report it to the school, saying it would launch an inquiry and take action to protect students, faculty and staff "no matter their views."

Columbia student protest leader banned from campus after saying "Zionists don’t deserve to live"

From CNN’s John Towfighi

Columbia University has banned one of the students leading the university’s pro-Palestinian protests, a university spokesperson told CNN on Friday.  

Khymani James, a student spokesperson for Columbia University Apartheid Divest (CUAD) coalition, acknowledged in a post on X that he said, “Zionists don’t deserve to live,” saying it was from an Instagram Live video taken in January.

“I misspoke in the heat of the moment, for which I apologize," James wrote.

“I want to make clear that calls of violence and statements targeted at individuals based on their religious, ethnic or national identity are unacceptable and violate university policy,” the university spokesperson said.

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During a Chaotic Day, Columbia’s President Fights for Her Job

Nemat Shafik, the university’s leader, met privately with faculty members, who could soon decide to admonish her. Columbia’s board, though, made its support clear.

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By Stephanie Saul ,  Alan Blinder and Liset Cruz

Stephanie Saul and Liset Cruz reported from Columbia University, and Alan Blinder reported from Atlanta.

• April 23, 2024

Nemat Shafik, Columbia University’s besieged president, faced skeptics on Wednesday in a meeting with the university senate that could vote to censure her over her handling of protests on the Upper Manhattan campus.

Dr. Shafik, who last week called in the police officers who made more than 100 arrests while they cleared a student protest encampment, is facing mounting calls for her resignation, including from House Speaker Mike Johnson, who visited Columbia on Wednesday. If Dr. Shafik ultimately remains atop Columbia, her meeting with the university senate made plain that it will likely be as a scarred figure.

Dr. Shafik defended her choice to summon the New York authorities to campus, according to three people who attended the meeting at the law school. But, according to two of those people, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe a private meeting, Dr. Shafik used part of her roughly hourlong appearance to acknowledge that the decision to bring in the police had exacerbated the problems. She said she believed, though, that it was necessary for the safety of protesting students.

The group could vote on a censure as soon as Friday, but some senators were discussing the possibility of pursuing a more moderate course in the aftermath of Wednesday’s meeting.

Although predicting the outcome of a university senate vote is an inexact science — the body includes in excess of 100 faculty members, students, alumni and administrators from a wide range of academic disciplines — a draft censure resolution was unsparing. In it, Dr. Shafik was accused of violating fundamental rules by ignoring a 13-member senate executive committee that had unanimously rejected her request to ask the police onto campus.

By calling in the police anyway, the resolution said, Dr. Shafik had endangered both the welfare and the futures of the arrested students. Dr. Shafik had already angered many at Columbia with her testimony on Capitol Hill on April 17, when she tried to placate Republican lawmakers but provoked outrage on campus, in part for not robustly defending academic freedom.

Carol Garber, a professor of biobehavioral sciences, said Wednesday’s meeting included the voices of many senate members who were “upset and hurt,” with many “unhappy with some of the statements” Dr. Shafik made in Washington.

Protest management is a particularly resonant matter for modern Columbia presidents, professors and students, who have known well how Grayson L. Kirk’s tenure came to a turbulent close after widespread criticism of his handling of demonstrations in 1968.

To some of Dr. Shafik’s critics, her choice last week echoed that strategy and should yield a similar outcome.

So far, the university senate is not expected to call for Dr. Shafik’s removal, with a censure vote meant to signal serious disapproval, not a demand for an ouster. Some senators fear allowing outsiders too great a voice in university affairs. And another draft of the resolution was in the works that stopped short of a censure but was described as more of an expression of disapproval with the administration.

“It really isn’t a precedent any academic institution wants to set,” Dr. Garber said in an interview. “We shouldn’t be bullied by someone in Congress. If something happens on Friday, are we capitulating to an outside force?”

But to many people on campus, Columbia has already done so — whether by allowing protesters, for now, to rebuild their encampment or by turning to the police last week.

And on Wednesday, it was far from settled how long the resurrected protest zone would last, or whether Columbia would again seek arrests.

Not even 12 hours after Columbia’s predawn assertion of progress in its negotiations with the demonstrators, a protest leader all but dismissed some of the university’s claims.

To extend talks, according to the university, the protesters agreed to remove a significant number of the tents erected on the lawn. Columbia also said the protesters had pledged that non-students would leave the encampment, and that they would bar discriminatory or harassing language among the demonstrators.

But on Wednesday morning, an organizer announced to other students at the encampment that they would not be “doing the university’s job of removing people from this camp for them,” insisting that demonstrators would not become “cops to each other." And the organizer declared that the protesters were “committed to staying here and having people stay here.”

University officials did not respond to a request for comment on Wednesday about the protest leader’s remarks at the encampment, which some demonstrators said they expected to be free of police activity until at least Friday. But Columbia has set an early Friday deadline for an agreement and left open the possibility of dismantling the camp using “alternative options.”

Protesters and university officials were also at odds over what was said during their urgent talks. A student group, which had been suspended by the university, insisted that administrators had suggested that the National Guard could be deployed to campus, a tactic Mr. Johnson urged after he met with Dr. Shafik on Wednesday.

Protesters say their vigil has been peaceful. And a spokeswoman for Gov. Kathy Hochul of New York noted that the governor said publicly she had no plans to send the Guard onto the campus.

Ben Chang, a spokesman for Columbia, said the claim that the university threatened that the Guard could be deployed was “completely baseless.”

Separately on Wednesday, Columbia’s board defended Dr. Shafik, saying in a statement that it “strongly supports President Shafik as she steers the university through this extraordinarily challenging time.”

The board added, “During the search process for this role, President Shafik told us that she would always take a thoughtful approach to resolving conflict, balancing the disparate voices that make up a vibrant campus like Columbia’s, while taking a firm stance against hatred, harassment and discrimination. That’s exactly what she’s doing now.”

The events at Columbia are at the center of a spate of unrest rocking campuses from California to Connecticut as the end of the semester approaches. Across the country, administrators have struggled to balance principles like open debate with the need to protect Jewish students. Some demonstrations have included hate speech, threats or support for Hamas, the armed group based in Gaza that led attacks on Israel on Oct. 7, sparking the war that has left tens of thousands of people dead.

Brown University said it had warned about 90 students Wednesday morning that their new encampment broke university rules and that they faced school discipline. At California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt, dozens of protesters occupied a building on the campus, which has been closed since Monday. And on the other end of the state, at the University of Southern California, about 100 protesters set up an encampment, which security officials quickly moved to dismantle.

But many other campuses, even ones that had seen protests earlier in the week, were largely quiet, with students and professors alike preparing for final exams.

At Columbia, the encampment on Wednesday at times seemed far quieter than it had, especially when Dr. Shafik’s first deadline had loomed.

Tents that protesters frantically broke down Tuesday night stood pitched again. A group of Muslim students prayed together, and protesters passed through a canopy to get food from Dunkin’ and Popeyes.

At each entrance to the encampment, demonstrators stood guard. Not far away, Columbia’s preparations for commencement went on.

Anna Betts , Eryn Davis , Lola Fadulu , Annie Karni , Victoria Kim , Santul Nerkar , Katherine Rosman , Karla Marie Sanford , Ed Shanahan and Jonathan Wolfe contributed reporting.

Because of an editing error, an earlier version of this article misspelled the given name of the president of Columbia University. Her name is Nemat Shafik, not Nemak Shafik.

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Stephanie Saul reports on colleges and universities, with a recent focus on the dramatic changes in college admissions and the debate around diversity, equity and inclusion in higher education. More about Stephanie Saul

Alan Blinder is a national correspondent for The Times, covering education. More about Alan Blinder

Our Coverage of the U.S. Campus Protests

News and Analysis

The nation’s most entrenched protest is at California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt, where pro-Palestinian protesters have occupied  the administration building and forced a campus closure until May 10.

Some colleges that initiated police crackdowns  on pro-Palestinian protests have since taken a different tack . Others have defended the move.

Representative Ilhan Omar of Minnesota has plunged into Democrats’ political storm  over the war in Gaza, further polarizing an already tense debate, after she suggested  that some Jewish students are “pro-genocide.”

Denied a Second Chance: After Covid ruined high school graduation for the class of 2020, the response to campus protests might upend their college commencements .

Deepening Democratic Rifts: Scenes of chaos unfolding on campuses across the country  are stoking internal divisions within the Democratic Party and carry political risk as a major election year unfolds.

What Makes a Protest Antisemitic?: Pro-Palestinian student activists say their movement  is anti-Zionist but not antisemitic. It is not a distinction  that everyone accepts.