2007 hunger strike
In November 2007, Columbia activists embarked upon yet another protest. Banking off several recent "bias incidents" involving racist and anti-Semitic symbols seen around campus, a group of students has gone on a hunger strike, and lassoed some vague and general demands into an agenda they hope they will coerce the administration into accepting.
Contents
General focus areas of demands
- Administrative reform
- Further expansion of Ethnic Studies
- No expansion into Harlem (see Manhattanville expansion)
- Core Curriculum reform
Participants
- Bryan Mercer, 22, a senior at Columbia
- Samantha Barron, 19, Barnard sophomore from California
- Aretha Choi, 19, a Barnard sophomore from Colorado
- Emilie Rosenblatt, 22, a Columbia senior from Illinois
- Victoria Ruiz, 20, a Columbia junior from California
Supporters
Lucha, the MSA, the College Democrats, SEEJ, and the ISO are among student groups offering support. The CCSC, GSSC, and Barnard's SGA have offered "statements of solidarity".
The strikers are also supported by some members of the faculty, notably Hamid Dabashi, Gil Anidjar, Nicholas De Genova, and Barnard PoliSci prof Dennis Dalton, who declared he would join the strike, but continues to consume water and juice. The entire faculty of the Center for the Study of Ethnicity and Race has also declared support.
Alumni who have visibly supported the strike include the hunger strikers of 1996, Mark Rudd, Jennifer Oki, Nell Geiser, and Alexis Pauline Gumbs. Anti-Columbia singer Nellie McKay is also an active supporter.
Timeline
- November 7: Started
- Nov 11: Choi drops out
Achievements
Columbia College dean Austin Quigley and Arts and Sciences VP Nicholas Dirks have tried to preempt the strike with announcements they're willing to make new administrative hires to represent diversity concerns, and have pledged further study regarding the status of the Core Curriculum. The Manhattanville expansion is so far not under negotiation.
