Columbia University ordered pro-Palestinian protesters to disband their encampment on Monday after school representatives and student organizers failed to negotiate a resolution to the standoff that began almost two weeks ago and inspired similar protests on campuses nationwide, USA Today reports.
In a statement on Monday, school President Minouche Shafik acknowledged that a small group of academic leaders had engaged in constructive dialogue with student organizers in an attempt to reach an agreement to dismantle the encampment. Unfortunately, they were unable to reach a resolution.
Jon Ben-Menachem, one of the main student organizers, stated on Twitter that members of the Gaza Solidarity Encampment faced “mass evictions and interim suspensions” if they did not comply with the university’s order to leave.
