YDSA

Columbia-Barnard Young Democratic Socialists of America’s tuition strike, which organizers claim mobilized at least 1,000 student strikers at its peak, ended on Monday, April 5.

As the Graduate Workers of Columbia-United Auto Workers’ strike enters its second week, many undergraduate students on and off campus are voicing their support for the movement, as are other unions and students at other universities.

After years of student pressure and internal dialogue, Columbia announced on Friday that it will not directly invest in publicly-traded oil and gas companies for the foreseeable future. The University said it may make exceptions for companies with credible plans for net-zero emissions by 2050.

In front of an array of posters emblazoned with red and black slogans, the Columbia-Barnard Young Democratic Socialists of America mounted a rally in support of its tuition strike. The rally began with a press conference in front of University President Lee Bollinger’s 60 West Morningside Drive home and culminated in a march to the steps of Low Library.