Teachers College has been sharing updates from Columbia University regarding the encampment on the Morningside Campus.
Columbia recently announced that protestors must leave the encampment by 2 p.m. today. As an affiliate institution, Teachers College community members must abide by CU policies when on the CU campus.
Published Monday, Apr 29, 2024
We are writing to share recent updates from the CU Morningside campus.
Please see the following CU campus update as of April 27, 2024, as well as a recent communication from the CU Office of the President.
Published Sunday, Apr 28, 2024
Dear fellow members of the Columbia Community,
Throughout this very challenging year, we have adhered to a simple goal: to continue our academic mission while keeping campus safe and enforcing our rules fairly. That is the bedrock of every decision we make, and we are writing at this time to reiterate that thinking.
We called on NYPD to clear an encampment once, but we all share the view, based on discussions within our community and with outside experts, that to bring back the NYPD at this time would be counterproductive, further inflaming what is happening on campus, and drawing thousands to our doorstep who would threaten our community.
Having said that, we also need to continue to enforce our own rules and ensure that those who violate the norms of our community face consequences.
The last week has been a period of deep tension and division on our campus, with significant disruption to our community. Many of you are attempting to finish the term, prepare for exams, and work on your research, and the uncertainty and chaotic atmosphere of demonstrations inside our campus and just outside the perimeter has made that challenging to say the least.
We know that many of you feel threatened by the atmosphere and the language being used and have had to leave campus. That is unacceptable. Many of you also are concerned about being able to speak out for a cause you feel passionately about. That also is unacceptable. Fundamental to the research and teaching mission of our university is academic freedom and an environment free from discrimination and harassment for every member of our community.
We want to be absolutely clear. The antisemitism being expressed by some individuals is intolerable and the safety situation has become concerning, particularly with the involvement of individuals not associated with Columbia.
Chants, signs, taunts, and social media posts from our own students that mock and threaten to “kill” Jewish people are totally unacceptable, and Columbia students who are involved in such incidents will be held accountable. We can report that one individual whose vile videos have surfaced in recent days is now banned from campus.
We all agree that this situation must be resolved so that everyone can complete the semester, students can go home, and we can provide graduating students and their loved ones the celebratory commencement they deserve.
We support the conversations that are ongoing with student leaders of the encampment, under the guidance of academic leaders. Our goal is a safe resolution of this crisis. We hope to see concrete signs of progress tonight that will lead to a significant improvement in the atmosphere on our Morningside campus.
Further updates will be shared tomorrow.
Sincerely,
David GreenwaldCo-Chair, Board of Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York
Claire ShipmanCo-Chair, Board of Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York
Minouche ShafikPresident, Columbia University in the City of New York
Angela OlintoProvost, Columbia University in the City of New York
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With Convocation drawing near, the Class of 2024’s student speakers will prepare to take the stage, and share remarks and reflections on their time at Teachers College.
Learn more about this year’s honored student speakers — from across TC’s education, health and psychology programs — and tune into their remarks during Convocation ceremonies on May 14 and 15.
Amber Barger (Ed.D. ’24, Adult Learning & Leadership)
Teachers College Building
Hometown: Houston, Texas
What Inspires Her: Barger is inspired by her formative years serving in the Peace Corps when she facilitated grassroots projects in rural Mongolia. Collaborating alongside local leaders and stakeholders, she mobilized creative solutions to address the community’s most pressing challenges. “My drive for leading and growing organizations comes from seeing the real difference it makes when people who care come together to tackle problems and achieve breakthroughs—that’s what really improves our world.”
How She Makes a Difference: Barger brings a scholar-practitioner lens to build award-winning people development programs that yield measurable results for organizations. “I believe a better working world is one in which organizations activate the greatness within each of their people to create long-term value.” Daily, you can find Barger coaching behavior change, developing high-performing teams, and facilitating large-scale business transformation; she helps people adapt to the future of work.
Her most recent doctoral research is at the intersection of artificial intelligence and professional coaching, proving that AI coaches of the future can be just as effective as human coaches in building relationships with clients, providing coaching experiences, and helping clients attain their goals.
What’s Next: After Convocation, Barger plans to continue leading global teams to create individual and collective people experiences that positively impact how we grow and flourish in the workplace.
Isma Kafayat (M.A. ’24, Deaf/Hard of Hearing)
Teachers College Building
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
What Inspires Her: Working to eliminate the stigma surrounding disabilities, particularly within the deaf community. “Witnessing the limitations imposed on deaf individuals due to misconceptions about their potential has been a driving force behind my passion for advocacy,” explains Kafayat, who hopes to challenge stereotypes and empower others to recognize the potential within the deaf community.
How She Makes a Difference: As the president of the ASL club, Kafayat has led initiatives that promote deaf culture, language and community engagement. She has organized various events that raise awareness about deaf culture and communication barriers. Each event provides a valuable opportunity for students to learn and better understand the deaf community.
Kafayat is also a recipient of TC’s Abby M. O’Neill Fellowship , which recognizes her dedication to advocating for the deaf community. “This scholarship serves as a platform to amplify my efforts among the deaf community,” says Kafayat. “My experiences at TC have reinforced my commitment to service and advocacy and I am proud to have fostered greater understanding, inclusion and support for deaf individuals within my school and beyond.”
What’s Next: After completing her tenure at Teachers College, Kafayat plans to pursue her doctorate degree in Deaf Education and will teach at a deaf school for the next two years, while expanding her non-profit organization. “My goal is to ensure that learning becomes more inclusive and accessible for all.”
Jalnidh Kaur (Ph.D. ’24, Economics & Education)
Teachers College Building
Hometown: Ludhiana, Punjab, India
What Inspires Her: Her work as a teacher in rural India as well as her role and identity as a parent. “Being at the intersection of science and motherhood exposes one to new challenges and unique perspectives while also breaking stereotypes for female academics in the field.”
How She Makes a Difference: Kaur’s research focuses on understanding how information, beliefs and psychosocial tools can be leveraged to overcome adversity and enable people to realize their full potential. Through her work, she hopes to develop rigorous and actionable evidence to answer pressing policy questions that stand to improve welfare across the developing world.
A big part of Kaur’s dissertation research examines the role of teachers’ beliefs in shaping teachers’ efforts and student learning in low-income settings. “I’m particularly proud of this work. It has been a meaningful pursuit and a labor of love for the last six years of my time as a doctoral student at TC,” she shares. “My work has been cited by the World Bank and has expanded our understanding of interventions that work to empower teachers.”
What’s Next: Kaur will assume a new role as faculty at the Adam Smith Business School at the University of Glasgow in Scotland.
Maya Rajah (M.A. ’24, Psychology in Education)
Teachers College Building
Hometown: Singapore
What Inspires Her: Practices and experiences that foster authentic inner and outer kindness.Through daily meditative practices, Rajah has nurtured an unwavering inner friendship with herself, which inspires warmth and care within her interactions. She believes that kindness and compassion are vital pathways to lasting connection and peace.
How She Makes a Difference: Rajah’s collaborative research with several organizations reflects her commitment to promoting flourishing mental health globally. She has partnered with Global Action for Mental Health to research and develop a community-oriented psychosocial rehabilitation center in Bungoma, Kenya. Additionally, she helps the VIA Character Institute spearhead research on an AI-powered character strengths coach to enhance global access to strengths-based interventions. Rajah also works with Sol, the top U.S. spiritual wellness app, to foster interfaith dialogue and spiritual pluralism. This work complements her contributions to the executive committee of IPPA’s Spirituality and Meaning Division, where she helps aggregate research on spirituality and meaning in life. Her work across these platforms leverages modern technology and innovative strategies to foster a more compassionate and interconnected world.
What’s Next: Rajah plans to pursue doctoral studies to further explore how positive emotions and emotion regulation impact self-perception and relationships. Drawing on her extensive experience in mindfulness meditation and yoga, she will also continue facilitating groups, fusing scientific insights with experiential learning to empower and uplift others.
Published Friday, Apr 26, 2024
Dear Union Community,
Given the twisting of truth, outright lies, and relentlessly hateful speech that our present social media culture encourages, I have become increasingly less confident that writing public letters is a useful way to achieve meaningful change. That said, today, as the sirens blared by my window and hundreds of NYPD flood onto the scene at Columbia, I find myself unable to hold back and not write to you.
First, I am writing to make sure that everyone at Union knows that a wide range of support is here for any student, staff, or faculty who are in need of support. This is a horrible, awful day in the midst of ravaging, cruel times. It breaks us all. Please do not be afraid to reach out.
Second, on behalf of Union, I want to reaffirm what I hope everyone at Union knows. We have never and will never take the actions that occurred today, including to some of our students. Whatever our differences, all of your voices and values are too important to me and to Union to shove them away and dispose of them. I firmly believe campuses need to be places where lively, rigorous debate happens, where we struggle together to find better ways to live together on this planet, and where students have the chance to find and strengthen their voices, experience the power of collective action, and learn to be passionate, engaged citizens, particularly working alongside those with limited power who suffer under the crushing force of unjust policies, structures, and actions. These precious values do not flourish when protests are squashed. Democracy itself cannot flourish.
Third, Union has a strict policy that prohibits the NYPD from entering our campus, except in the rare situation where a serious crime has been committed. You have our commitment to enforcing this policy fully and strongly. I have your back.
Fourth, at Union, our long-standing commitment to social justice is manifest daily in how we, as an institution, live out loud in a world that does not share these values. It is not an easy thing to do but do it we must, without arrogance or self-righteousness. We are far from perfect, but with our strong hearts, critical minds, and activated bodies, we can, through our example, be a force for change. Keep going.
Finally, we are not and must not avert our eyes or turn our souls away from Gaza and Israel and the oppressions crushing so many peoples’ lives around the world, including right here in our own nation. To stay strong in the face of such horrifying forces of death, we must remember the hard truth that even when we disagree, we need each other; we need to gently care for each other and try as hard as we can to not carelessly inflict upon each other the very things we detest. I do not say this with a sense of ease because it is hard work to be a community. But don’t give up on it. The aching, yearning world cannot afford for you to do so.
Dear friends, the tides of intolerance are turning against the humanity in us all. I promise to stand beside you as we try to turn that tide towards love, towards justice, towards the embrace of our fragile human and planetary life. I am tired, sad, overwhelmed, and torn up inside, as I am sure many of you are. I promise to be with you in your weariness as well.
Peace,
President Serene Jones
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About Union Theological Seminary
Union Theological Seminary (UTS), founded in 1836 in New York City, is a globally recognized seminary and graduate school of theology where faith and scholarship meet to reimagine the work of justice. A beacon for social justice and progressive change, Union Theological Seminary is led by a diverse group of theologians and activist leaders. Drawing on both Christian traditions and the insights of other faiths, the institution is focused on educating leaders who can address critical issues like racial equity, criminal justice reform, income inequality, and protecting the environment. Union is led by Rev. Dr. Serene Jones, the 16th President and the first woman to head the 187-year-old seminary.
The post President Jones’ Statement on the Columbia University Protests appeared first on Union Theological Seminary.
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