Dear TC Community,
As you know, today, April 30, a group of protesters on the Columbia campus have occupied Hamilton Hall, near 116th Street and Amsterdam Avenue. As a result, with classes already completed, Columbia University has restricted access to the campus and encouraged only essential personnel to report in.
Teachers College is open and fully operational. We welcome members of our community to an environment that remains safe, inclusive and peaceful. We will not tolerate antisemitic, Islamophobic or other biased actions, threats or violations.
I understand the Israel-Palestine conflict has elicited strong feelings across our community as well as many differing positions. It's impossible not to be horrified by the suffering of so many innocent people – Israeli and Palestinian alike. I have heard from a number of faculty, students and alumni who have voiced genuine pain over what is occurring, as well as concerns about the safety of our campus. Our community is not united in their feelings towards the conflict, but I hope we can remain unified in our desire for safety, and to allow everyone to express their views in a productive and respectful way.
As President of TC, I represent the College, inclusive of all our students, faculty, staff and alumni. Teachers College strongly supports the right of all community members to express their views. We are committed to the freedom to engage in discussions that represent different experiences and viewpoints. We have a long history of safe and constructive student activism that we will always support and protect.
We also recognize that the physical and psychological safety of our community is non-negotiable. To support our community members, we have put in place a number of efforts to ensure and support public safety. Further, we remind you of the following resources:
- Students may contact Student Support & Advocacy (SSA) by completing this contact form or contact Columbia University's Counseling and Psychological Services for counseling and mental health support.
- Employees may access the counseling support through the Employee Assistance Program (employees and their household members can receive up to five (5) free sessions per topic with a certified counselor).
- All TC community members can contact Columbia University’s Office of Religious Life for religious and spiritual support.
The end of semester is itself a time of heightened anxiety and emotion as we finish coursework, defend dissertations and prepare for graduation ceremonies. I remain proud of our community and your support for one another. Our common values recognize that the rich diversity of our backgrounds and viewpoints is what makes us stronger and ensures that we contribute to the greater good.
We will continue to update you on developments.
Sincerely,
Thomas Bailey
President