Edited by: Fern Sidman
In response to weeks of escalating student protests, Columbia University announced a significant alteration to its traditional commencement arrangements. Citing security concerns and ongoing disruptions, the university has decided to cancel its main commencement ceremony, opting instead for smaller, school-level ceremonies, according to a report on Monday in the New York Times.
The university’s main campus has experienced considerable tension and disruption. It had been under a near-lockdown state since last Tuesday when a large contingent of police officers was deployed at Hamilton Hall. The officers were tasked with removing pro-Hamas protesters who had occupied the building, leading to the arrest of more than 100 individuals both inside and in the surrounding areas. The NYT report noted that the presence of dozens of police officers has remained a constant on the campus, complicating the logistics of hosting a large-scale event such as the commencement ceremony, originally scheduled for May 15.
President Minouche Shafik, who has been at the helm of the university during these turbulent times, had initially expressed a strong preference for holding the graduation on campus. According to the information provided in the NYT report, this preference led to the decisive action on April 30 to remove occupiers from Hamilton Hall and dismantle a large tent encampment that had taken over a central lawn for two weeks. However, the continuation of protests and security issues prompted a reassessment of these plans.
In a statement released by the university, officials explained that the decision to cancel the university-wide commencement stemmed primarily from concerns over security and the practicality of managing the admission of some 15,000 graduates and their guests under such circumstances, as per the information in the NYT report.
The revised plan involves holding class days and school-level ceremonies at the university’s athletics complex, located approximately 100 blocks north of the main campus in Morningside Heights. Indicated in the NYT report was that these smaller gatherings are designed to allow students to be honored individually in the presence of their peers, focusing on a more intimate and manageable setting for celebration.
Ben Chang, a university spokesman, expressed the institution’s regret over the situation, noting that the decision came after exhaustive efforts to locate an alternative venue capable of accommodating the large number of graduates and their guests proved fruitless. “Holding a large commencement ceremony on our campus presented security concerns that unfortunately proved insurmountable,” said Chang, as was reported by the NYT.
In lieu of the traditional gathering, the university is considering holding a “festive event” on the same day, with further details to be provided later. This approach aims to maintain a celebratory atmosphere while addressing the practicalities imposed by the current circumstances. The information in the NYT report affirmed that the school-level ceremonies are set to begin on Friday and will run through May 16, taking place at the Baker Athletics Complex, located at 218th Street in Inwood. This venue, known for its extensive playing fields and more removed location, offers a more neutral and controlled environment compared to the emotionally charged main campus quad.
Columbia University, like many institutions nationwide, faces the complex challenge of celebrating its graduates amidst ongoing campus protests and the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. As was explained in the NYT report, this year’s graduating class, which began their college journey with remote learning and missed traditional rites of passage.