A message from the Dean
Dear SIPA Students,
Across our SIPA community, we have students, faculty and staff who have been personally affected by the terrorist attack by Hamas and Israel’s military response to it in Gaza. Many in our community are hurting and anxious, as the near future in the region appears dire and devastating, and it weighs on all of us heavily.
During this distressing time, I have experienced and witnessed tremendous acts of kindness, empathy, and support from all corners of our SIPA community. Our student organizations have hosted wellness programs, educational forums, and found ways to reach out to each other to offer meaningful comfort, friendship, and information.
While we are finding many ways to come together and offer support, I have also met with and heard from members of our community who have expressed genuine concerns for their safety and the safety of others on campus, in group chats, in the classroom, and on social media because of their identities and beliefs. At Columbia, we take these concerns seriously, especially when students feel unsafe or targeted. If you witness or experience this type of behavior, it is critically important to report it (guidance below). I want to make it unequivocally clear: any act of harassment, intimidation, violence, and threats will not be tolerated in our school.
As your dean, I personally ask you to honor what we have committed to one another in all of our meetings and gatherings that even on issues that deeply divide us, we have to lead with empathy and compassion; we can disagree with one another, even fundamentally, but we should do it in a civil and respectful manner; and we should treat each other with humanity even as you advocate for a position. You are the future leaders of this world, and with this comes a responsibility to model to others how to conduct oneself in difficult times and complicated situations like this when emotions are raw.
SIPA will continue to organize events, forums for conversation and analysis, and webinars about the developing situation, and I will continue to hold meetings with students and student organizations to hear perspectives and see how I can be of help.
To report incidents of concern, bias, harassment, or discrimination, please go to the University’s General Concern Reporting form. By completing this form, the appropriate University Officials can review, respond, and offer support resources. For information about the University’s bias reporting process, please go here.
If there is ever immediate risk to health or safety, please contact Columbia Public Safety at 212-854-5555 (Morningside), 212-853-3333 (Manhattanville), or 212-305-7979 (CUIMC).
I wish to remind everyone of the University’s expectations for student conduct. Below are key policies that everyone needs to comply with to support the wellbeing of our community.
- IAB Bulletin Board Policy
- Rules of University Conduct
- Polices on Student Conduct and Engagement
- SIPA Code of Academic and Professional Conduct
- SIPA social media policy for student organizations (found in the OSA Student Organization handbook)
- Student Policies and Procedures on Discrimination and Harassment
As we enter the midpoint in the fall semester, I know this can be an academically demanding time. If you need assistance with your academics, please speak with your instructors and your advising dean.
While I cannot predict how long we will be in this challenging time, I am confident that we will continue to respect and care for one another with compassion and leadership.
Sincerely,
Keren Yarhi-Milo
Dean, School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA)
Adlai E. Stevenson Professor of International Relations
Columbia University
New York, NY