Speak Out: Faculty-led Initiative Brings Attention to Columbia Administration Inaction
(Photo/Faculty at “Speak Out” on Tuesday, April 29/Samantha Day)
By Sophia Petros
“The [federal] administration’s actions are careless, callous, and cruel. And fundamentally un-American.”
Eugenia McGill, Senior Lecturer at Columbia SIPA, spoke in support of academic freedom and student safety at the 25-hour “Speak Out,” which took place from 12 PM on Monday, April 28 to 1 PM on Tuesday, April 29 at the gates by Broadway and 117th Street. A crowd of students, faculty, and staff ebbed and flowed over the 25 hours as speakers passionately decried academic censorship and the resulting atmosphere of fear stoked on Columbia University’s campus.
The “Speak Out” was organized by faculty who felt increasingly frustrated with the lack of university action against the federal administration’s encroachment on academic freedom and student safety, according to Dr. Riana Elyse Anderson, Associate Professor of Social Work at the School of Social Work. As one of the main organizers of the event, she described the coordination as relatively smooth, as faculty members were easy to mobilize.
Members from nearly all of Columbia University’s twenty one departments and programs signed on to participate. Affiliates from the School of Social Work, the Medical School, Teacher’s College, the School of International and Public Affairs, the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, the Climate School, and others all spoke at the event.
When discussing the purpose of the event, Dr. Anderson elaborated, “We wanted to take the burdens that [students] (sic) have been carrying and ensure they knew they had our support.”
She explained that the faculty leaders also wanted to reassert the calls to action made by Columbia University Irving Medical School affiliates towards the Board of Trustees and “put pressure on the administration before summer break hits” in a couple of weeks.
Each school had an assigned slot of speaking time, which was then divided up between affiliates of that school. During SIPA’s slot, Professor Eugenia McGill emphasized the trauma she’s seen among her students, many of whom are international students afraid to leave their house due to the unprecedented deportations and revocations of student visas.
“What kind of a life is this?” she asked.
The organizers of the “Speak Out” also sought to make the protest accessible to all interested Columbia University affiliates; any participant had the option of wearing a mask and being off camera. Since the gathering took place just outside of the university gates, it did not violate the recently-implemented mask ban. Students, faculty, and staff were also able to submit testimonials, which were read anonymously by other participants.
“It is critical for those who feel comfortable and hold privilege to put ourselves out front and take on greater risk, even if that means we may be punished,” said Dr. Anderson.
Most public reactions were supportive, according to Dr. Anderson. Aside from a few hecklers, many passersby reacted positively, with some dropping off food or expressing gratitude for the work.
Daniel Naujoks, Lecturer of International and Public Affairs, wrapped up SIPA’s time slot with a few words that centered this political moment in a broader global context.
“This is not a partisan issue. This is not a political issue. This is a core civil rights and human rights issue.”
As of Tuesday afternoon, the administration had not interacted with the “Speak Out.” Whether or not the administration responds, the message has been made clear—the Columbia University community will not be complicit in the erosion of academic freedom.