Peace

Although campus is partially open and more students are living in or near New York City, the negative impacts of the pandemic are still present. Long hours on Zoom alone have caused common feelings of fatigue among many students and teachers, with peace of mind becoming increasingly rare during these anxiety-inducing times. Here are some activity ideas that are both easily accessible and fun to help you relieve stress and regain a sense of serenity.

On November 24, 2019, Columbia University Apartheid Divest—a coalition between Columbia Students for Justice in Palestine and Jewish Voice for Peace—presented the Columbia College Student Council with an appeal to place a question on the upcoming ballot enabling the student population to vote on if the University should “... divest its stocks, funds, and endowment from companies that profit from or engage in the State of Israel’s acts toward Palestinians that, according to Columbia University Apartheid Divest (CUAD), fall under the United Nations International Convention of the Suppression and Punishment of the Crime of Apartheid.” The ability to put the question on the ballot was passed in CUAD’s favor; however, the vote itself was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic that shut down campus in March and will instead be held this week.

"The community isn't ready for peace."

For the first two and a half years of my college experience, Spectator gave me a sense of community as both a reporter and reader.  Towards the end of my time at Spectator and since I stopped writing for the news section, I've worked hard to found, then grow, the Columbia chapter of Jewish Voice for Peace, an organization focused on supporting the Palestinian people and the call for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions through a Jewish-specific framework. I was disappointed that Jewish Voice for Peace's formation in September 2014 was not covered in the news pages of Spectator, considering how widely discussed the issues of Palestine and Israel are on our campus and their importance to many students at Columbia.

This past Monday, Israeli Minister of Justice Ayelet Shaked spoke at an official Columbia Law School luncheon organized by KOLEINU: Columbia Law Students for Israel. The luncheon was small, advertised through closed listservs, and exclusive to law students.

AJ Stoughton levies multiple erroneous accusations in his recent critique of Aryeh's Invest in Peace campaign.

This week, Aryeh, Columbia and Barnard Hillel's pro-Israel advocacy group, is holding a series of events "to highlight aspects of Israel [they] are especially proud of"—its humanitarian aid work, sustainability efforts, and start-up culture.