Tensions flare at US universities over Gaza protests
In an open letter to the university community, Columbia's president Nemat Shafik said there needed to be "a reset".
Second Minister for Home Affairs Josephine Teo attended the inaugural Global Fraud Summit in London. A communique signalling a commitment to tackle fraud and scams was endorsed by 11 countries at the summit. (Photo: UK Government)
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"Over the past days, there have been too many examples of intimidating and harassing behaviour on our campus," she said.
"Anti-Semitic language, like any other language that is used to hurt and frighten people, is unacceptable and appropriate action will be taken.
"To de-escalate the rancour and give us all a chance to consider next steps, I am announcing that all classes will be held virtually on Monday," she added.
More than 100 of them were arrested after university authorities called the police onto the private campus on Thursday, a move that seemingly escalated tensions and sparked a greater turnout over the weekend.
Joseph Howley, an associate professor of classics at Columbia, said the university had reached for the "wrong tool" by involving police, which had attracted "more radical elements that are not part of our student protests".
Protests also spread to other campuses, including MIT, New York University, the University of Michigan and Yale, where at least 47 people had been arrested on Monday after refusing requests to disperse.
"The university made the decision to arrest those individuals who would not leave the plaza with the safety and security of the entire Yale community in mind and to allow access to university facilities by all members of our community," the Ivy League university said in a statement.
