Barnard and Columbia AAUP condemn Rosenbury "in the strongest possible terms"

Following an emergency meeting on March 6, the AAUP released a statement “condemn[ing] in the strongest possible terms” the recent actions of President Laura Rosenbury.

Photography by Merielen Espino/The Barnard Bulletin

By Theresa Cullen

March 13, 2025

Updated March 25 at 3:48 p.m.

After a week of protests ending in the arrest of nine students, Barnard faculty convened Thursday, March 6 for a private meeting in the Barnard Hall James Room. The meeting, jointly led by the Barnard and Columbia chapters of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP), specifically focused on the actions of President Rosenbury, who authorized the NYPD’s presence on campus Wednesday afternoon.

The AAUP published a statement in response late the following night, explicitly stating that “the Barnard and Columbia chapters of AAUP condemn in the strongest possible terms President Laura Rosenbury’s responsibility for the arrest of nonviolent Barnard and Columbia student protestors.” 

In their statement, the AAUP called for an “independent investigation of the events of February 26 and March 5.” The group emphasized a “widespread condemnation of President Rosenbury’s actions” among its members, citing her frequent absence in “moments of crisis,” “undermin[ing] due process,” and limiting free speech, among other concerns. The statement specifically drew focus to the controversial on-campus presence of the NYPD’s Counter Terrorism team and Strategic Response Group on March 5, in which “officers positioned arrestees along the glass windows of the building under evacuation and closed the main gates, locking students, faculty, and staff onto campus.”

The AAUP additionally  noted their continual warning of “capitulating to political pressures” and their opinion that Rosenbury’s decision to escalate on March 5 “ has endangered our community and interfered with the college’s educational mission.” 

The release of this statement comes less than a year after their unanimous 102-0 vote of no confidence in Rosenbury on April 22, 2024, the first in the College’s history. Barnard’s Faculty Governance and Planning Committee passed a similar vote on April 29, 2024, in which 77% of respondents issued a vote of no confidence. 

Last year, Rosenbury did not issue a direct response to either vote of no confidence. However, in a statement to Inside Higher Ed last April, a Barnard spokesperson said that the “administration looks forward to engaging with faculty members as we continue working to ensure that Barnard remains a safe and inclusive community for all.” The AAUP statement did not mention the prior votes, instead saying that the “decision represents the culmination of the last eighteen months.”

At its core, the AAUP message advocates for a unified College, writing that Rosenbury “has sowed division among members of our community and with this last action, has abdicated her responsibilities of leadership at an educational institution.” Their statement emphasizes the importance of an “environment conducive to learning, teaching, and research” that is built on trust between all members of the college, including students. 

The Barnard administration has yet to respond to the AAUP’s statement. 

Editor's note: The second and third paragraph as well as title of this article have been updated as of March 25, 2025 to more accurately reflect the content of the AAUP statement.