President Rosenbury addresses student demonstrations and ICE, emphasizes unity in email to Barnard community

Around 9 p.m. on March 24, President Laura Rosenbury emailed Barnard students to address concerns about on-campus demonstrations, the College’s protocol regarding U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and upcoming changes to student conduct policies.

Photo by Merielen Espino/The Barnard Bulletin

By Kimberly Wing

April 2, 2025

On the evening of March 24, the first day of classes after spring break, President Rosenbury sent an email to the Barnard community to outline new conduct policies and address concerns about protests and ICE agents on Columbia’s campus. With the subject line “Standing Together,” Rosenbury’s email was written in response to “requests for increased transparency, accountability, and communication.”

Rosenbury detailed Barnard’s “ongoing commitments” regarding future NYPD presence on campus and changes in student conduct policies. She announced that the College recently hired an independent team of professional mediators to engage with students, emphasizing the team’s neutrality and confidentiality. According to Rosenbury, the team has already consulted with a range of students, including Barnard’s Student Government Association (SGA) leaders.

The email reiterated the administration’s commitment to “always [making] every effort to de-escalate and resolve” campus disruptions internally. Rosenbury also condemned the use of masks during demonstrations, arguing that it heightens the risk of unauthorized individuals on campus, increases “the likelihood that people will engage in graffiti or property destruction in plain sight,” and allows for the anonymous distribution of “materials advocating violence with impunity.” She acknowledged the College’s efforts to combat doxxing, but maintained that “anyone who is on our campus needs to be identifiable and held responsible for their actions.” 

The email also reaffirmed that students are welcome to organize activism-related events on campus as long as they follow Barnard’s procedures for events and demonstrations.

Rosenbury also addressed the College’s reliance on NYPD for handling campus disruptions. She stated that law enforcement would only be called after multiple internal de-escalation attempts and until College personnel are equipped to handle such situations. This comes in the wake of criticism from the Barnard and Columbia chapters of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP), which published a joint statement condemning Rosenbury “in the strongest possible terms” for her responsibility for the March 5 arrests of nonviolent student protestors by the NYPD. Barnard’s SGA also published an open letter opposing police presence on campus earlier this month.

In addition to protest-related policies, Rosenbury announced that Barnard’s Student Code of Conduct Committee would work with the Faculty Governance and Procedures Committee to propose a new disciplinary conduct process. While supporting the creation of a multi-person panel to determine conduct violations in some cases, she defended the current “single administrator” model as “fair,” explaining that disciplinary appeals are reviewed by a separate decision-maker. 

Rosenbury affirmed Barnard’s commitment “to supporting each and every student,” especially international students. She emphasized that ICE agents are not permitted on campus without a judicial warrant, as Barnard is private property with restricted access. She also reassured students that the administration would not share private student information without a judicial warrant or subpoena.

Concluding her message, Rosenbury expressed her hope for continued productive dialogue and collaboration “to continue Barnard’s vital mission during these unprecedented times.”