A Message from Interim President, Donna E. Shalala
As some of you may be aware, a deeply troubling incident occurred on our campus this week, when members of our community protested an event organized by The New School’s chapter of Hillel, a registered student organization at the university.
The protesters blocked the entrance to Arnhold Hall, where the event was scheduled to take place, disrupted university activities throughout the building, and engaged in unacceptable and aggressive behaviors that limited the ability of community members to congregate peacefully and access university resources. The protesters’ actions were in clear violation of university policy.
The university prepared for this event by making sure that Campus Safety, representatives from the Dean of Students office, and other senior administrators were on hand to support the gathering. However, we understood the meeting, which included a guest speaker, would only be open to Hillel members. This was not the case. In fact, the event was shared publicly, and Hillel accepted anyone who registered even if they didn’t receive the event invitation. Campus Safety and other university leaders spent more than three hours working with our students to de-escalate the situation and restore calm.
It is important that the entire New School community understand that two things are true: first, freedom of expression, including the right to demonstrate peacefully about serious issues, is critically important. Our campus must be a place where all members of our community feel free to express their views, even when others disagree.
However, the second truth is that the physical safety of our students, faculty, staff, and all those who call our campus home cannot be endangered. When that happens, we will take action and hold accountable those who don’t comply with our university code of conduct and policies. We are one community with the responsibility to ensure the safety and well being of all, and we have to work together to make that happen.
The Office of Student Conduct and our Title IX Office are quickly reviewing reports from our community about the protesters’ behavior and will respond appropriately. We also will review and strengthen our meeting reservation rules immediately. I have said this before and I will say it again now: We as a community have zero tolerance for Islamophobia, antisemitism, racism toward Jewish people, Palestinians, Arab Americans, and other SWANA people, or discrimination or bullying of any kind—ZERO!
All of us are outraged, distressed, and heartbroken about the brutal Hamas attack on Israelis on October 7, as well as the innocent Palestinians whose lives have been lost and homes destroyed. We want robust dialogue on this campus about all issues. But we need your help to enable that dialogue in a peaceful and respectful way.