Columbia University is facing one of the biggest crises in its recent history as a wave of pro-Palestine protests sweeps across US campuses.
The measures taken have made it impossible for Cypriot musician Alkinoos Ioannidis to go ahead with his concert, scheduled for April 22.
Protesters have persistently mobilised, even setting up tents on Columbia’s campus, in support of Palestine and a ceasefire, while also protesting the persecution of their fellow students, which led to police intervention and arrests on the orders of the university president.
Alkinoos Ioannidis, currently in New York, offers his perspective on the events:
“The last few days have been quite unique in New York. I reside next to Columbia and witnessed the events unfold up close,’ the popular songwriter posted. I saw the students’ ‘occupation’ of the campus, the entry of the police into the campus (the first time since 1968), and the arrest of 108 students following the president’s order. This came after the president was ‘interrogated’ by the House Education Committee the day before, where, among other things, she was told that the Bible is not taught enough in the curriculum. She was also seriously asked if she wanted God to curse Columbia, to which she replied equally seriously, ‘No, I would not like that.’
“I also witnessed the non-stop, 24-hour demonstrations inside and outside the university, with slogans, Palestinian flags, and keffiyehs seen everywhere in the city. Today, a protest was held by hundreds of Columbia professors in support of their students. Simultaneously, 47 students were arrested at Yale, and protests are taking place at several other universities (e.g. Berkeley, Boston University, MIT, University of California, NYU, University of North Carolina).
“As of this morning, Columbia has banned entry to the campus, classes are being held online, the university is operating with minimal staff, and all events have been suspended. Despite my belief that music should never stop, the aforementioned measures made it impossible to hold the concert. I apologise to any members of the audience who were inconvenienced.
“The lecture and concert at UCLA (April 26 and 27) are expected to go ahead as planned.”
(Pictures by Reuters)
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