Columbia students return amid ongoing pro-Palestinian protests

Columbia University students returned to campus amid ongoing pro-Palestinian protests, which had previously disrupted campus life. A sit-in protest occurred outside a class taught by Hillary Clinton, where approximately 30 students chanted slogans against Zionism. The university has implemented heightened security measures, including ID checks for entry and fencing around green spaces, creating a more confined atmosphere for students. The protests are largely organized by a coalition called Columbia University Apartheid Divest, which demands transparency regarding the university's investment portfolio and divestment from companies linked to Israeli military actions. The protests have drawn criticism, with some alleging antisemitism, while organizers maintain their focus is on the Israeli state rather than Jewish individuals. In response to the protests, Columbia's antisemitism taskforce has called for changes, including mandatory training for incoming students on antisemitism and Islamophobia. The university has revised its protest guidelines, requiring organizers to notify the administration of planned demonstrations and prohibiting those that could lead to harassment or disrupt university functions. Despite these restrictions, student groups have expressed their determination to continue protesting, emphasizing their commitment to raising awareness about what they describe as genocide. The atmosphere on campus remains tense, with students feeling a mix of solemnity and confinement as they navigate the new security landscape.