iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

CUIMC Stands Up @cuimcstandsup.bsky.social · 09/10/2025

🎙️ Last week, a group of Columbia professors — most of them Jewish — took a stand. Risking reprisal, they publicly rejected the university’s recent incorporation of a controversial definition of antisemitism. Their statements, excerpted here, can be read in full at cu-standsup.org/events/free-....

110434

CUIMC Stands Up @cuimcstandsup.bsky.social · 27/07/2025

“Columbia must resist narratives that single out some students for protection while ignoring the suffering of others…The current lopsided treatment of students by this administration regarding the war in Gaza risks worsening the very divisions it claims to address.” (6/6)

Columbia must resist narratives that single out some students for protection while ignoring the suffering of others.
These narratives misrepresent the nature and causes of campus tensions and provide the cover for outside attacks that undermine our university's mission.
Columbia must reject pressures-whether from donors, alumni, political actors, or internal stakeholders-to privilege some views and silence others in the name of safety or institutional reputation. At its best, a university defends the full spectrum of intellectual freedom, not only fostering inclusion based on identity, but also protecting the right to protest, question, critique, and hold power accountable. This means respecting students and scholars across political, religious, and ideological spectra and protecting their civil rights. The current lopsided treatment of students by this administration regarding the war in Gaza risks worsening the very divisions it claims to address.

030

CUIMC Stands Up @cuimcstandsup.bsky.social · 27/07/2025

‼️🚨WHAT’S AT STAKE: Higher ed “has long served as a necessary counterweight to authoritarianism… But that crucial role is possible only if universities support discourse that includes dissent and uphold their core values of inclusion, equity, and academic freedom consistently, not selectively” (5/6)

What's at stake
Across the country, universities are under intensifying political pressure to suppress protest, narrow intellectual discourse, and align with authoritarian narratives.
Higher education has long served as a vital space for critical thinking and dissent-a necessary counterweight to authoritarianism and the abuse of power.
But that crucial role is possible only if universities support discourse that includes dissent and uphold their core values of inclusion, equity, and academic freedom consistently, not selectively.

131

CUIMC Stands Up @cuimcstandsup.bsky.social · 27/07/2025

“The findings…fall short of capturing the range of experiences of Jewish students on campus… Columbia's prevailing discourse…oversimplifies and obscures these complex and painful realities, thereby undermining our community's ability to address the challenges.” (4/6)

The findings presented in the task force's report fall short of capturing the range of experiences of Jewish students on campus. Embedded within the data, and reflected in accounts since October 7, 2023, are the facts that many Jewish students have reported feeling alienated for criticizing Israel's assault on Gaza and some have been targeted by alumni and professors, or labeled as "self-hating Jews" for their support of Palestinian rights. In addition, Jewish students, like students of all backgrounds, have been exposed to threats, harassment, administrative punishment, arrest, and physical attacks for participating in a noble tradition of Columbia student protests against global injustices.
Therefore framing all of the "immense challenges faced by our Jewish students" as a problem of antisemitism as Columbia's prevailing discourse does, oversimplifies and obscures these complex and painful realities, thereby undermining our community's ability to address the challenges.

120

CUIMC Stands Up @cuimcstandsup.bsky.social · 27/07/2025

“The current framing—which is endorsed by Columbia's leadership, exploited by the federal government, and echoed by their allies in the media—oversimplifies and obscures, and risks deepening divisions rather than healing them.” 🎯 (3/6)

The University's responsibility is to respond to these complexities, not reduce them to a singular narrative of antisemitism. The current framing-which is endorsed by Columbia's leadership, exploited by the federal government, and echoed by their allies in the media- oversimplifies and obscures, risks deepening divisions rather than healing them.

120

CUIMC Stands Up @cuimcstandsup.bsky.social · 27/07/2025

“The administration's narrative obscures these facts, marginalizes the pain and suffering of Muslim students, and erroneously homogenizes Jewish students' experiences by ignoring the pressures many encountered for protesting Israel's assault on Gaza.” (2/6)

The data reflects a campus community struggling with grief, moral urgency, intense polarization, and the failure of University administration to broker the ensuing tension in a constructive manner.
As described below, these struggles affect Jewish students and Muslim students at comparable rates. The administration's narrative obscures these facts, marginalizes the pain and suffering of Muslim students, and erroneously homogenizes Jewish students' experiences by ignoring the pressures many encountered for protesting Israel's assault on Gaza.
Changing our understanding of the problem changes the solutions needed to address it.

130

CUIMC Stands Up @cuimcstandsup.bsky.social · 24/07/2025

We couldn’t have said it better ourselves: “I don’t think the values of the Trump administration are the values of the Columbia medical faculty. In fact, I am certain they are not. We have made a deal with the devil. Those don’t usually work out.” We can confirm ‼️

2115

CUIMC Stands Up @cuimcstandsup.bsky.social · 24/07/2025

Thank you to Rise Up, Columbia for the astute analysis as usual and the footnote shoutout to CUIMC Stands Up! We’re a group of medical campus faculty & staff firmly against the exchange of our values for grant funds, even as our jobs & careers are at risk. 🔗 open.substack.com/pub/riseupco...

Columbia's Agreement with the Federal Government
RISE UP, COLUMBIA
TODAY AT 12:17 PM
The Columbia administration has finally done what many of us have urged it not to do: it has signed a bad agreement with the federal government to address the government's phony concerns about
Columbia. Here is the document. And here, importantly, is President Shipman's letter outlining her view of the document.

1197

CUIMC Stands Up @cuimcstandsup.bsky.social · 27/06/2025

@columbiamed.bsky.social posted this on X? CUIMC has many obesity medicine docs, dietitians, etc. who study nutrition. Trustee Shoshana Shendelman isn’t one of them She’s been sued for fraud (hiding FDA concerns). Faculty have a petition to remove her from CU leadership: bit.ly/Remove-Trustee

Screenshot of a X post from @ColumbiaMed: Obesity is a serious public health issue nationwide, affecting nearly 20% of children in the U.S. To effectively address this crisis, @columbiaps' Dr. Shoshana Shendelman stresses the importance of collaboration between the pharmaceutical industry and community organizations like Make America Healthy Again (MAHA)
@: columbiamed.link/4eeUeFr

2137

CUIMC Stands Up @cuimcstandsup.bsky.social · 23/06/2025

We’re thrilled that Mahmoud Khalil has been reunited with his family Our weekly vigils will continue at Columbia in protest of ICE detentions, deportations & displacement Join us tomorrow 6/23 @ 12pm 📍Broadway & 116th Please wear black, bring sun protection & water. We’ll be out for at least 30m

Close up photo of people’s hands holding black and white photos of 3 people’s faces: Mahmoud Khalil, Yunseo Chung, and Ranjani Srinivasan, three Columbia students who have faced government persecution for pro-Palestinian speech

080

CUIMC Stands Up @cuimcstandsup.bsky.social · 17/06/2025

Columbians won’t tolerate kings — which is why we’re standing up AGAINST authoritarianism and FOR democratic values & shared governance at @columbiauniversity.bsky.social and in all levels of government! CUIMC, join us! There’s an interest form linked on our website homepage: www.cuimcstandsup.org

Photo of Columbia contingent at NYC No Kings March with a large banner that says Columbians Against Kings. People are holding umbrellas and wearing rain ponchos. A sign in the front says “diversity = strength”

032

CUIMC Stands Up @cuimcstandsup.bsky.social · 17/06/2025

The Columbia community SHOWED UP! Thank you so much to those who came out. Our community is so strong and we will continue organizing in response to the Trump admin’s attacks on our university and on science and education everywhere #NoKings #NoKingsNYC #RiseUpHigherEd

Photo of Columbia contingent at NYC No Kings March. People are holding umbrellas and wearing rain ponchos. A visible sign says “Protect Our Students”

141

CUIMC Stands Up @cuimcstandsup.bsky.social · 17/06/2025

Columbians Against Kings! 🦁❌👑 We had such a vibrant Columbia contingent at the NYC No Kings March!! 💙✊ Columbia faculty and staff will continue standing up for our research, our teaching, and most crucially, our students! 📸: @ninaber.bsky.social #NoKings #RiseUpHigherEd #HandsOffOurStudents

Photo of Columbia contingent at NYC No Kings March with a large sign that says Columbians Against Kings. People are holding umbrellas and wearing rain ponchos. A t shirt in the front says Columbians Fighting Back over an upside down crown.

1227

CUIMC Stands Up @cuimcstandsup.bsky.social · 16/06/2025

Columbia: Join our weekly vigil tomorrow (6/16) 12–1PM to say Hands Off Our Students & Colleagues facing government persecution for speech 📍MAIN CAMPUS: 116th & Broadway 📍CUIMC: Haven Plaza Please wear black & remain silent during this 1-hr vigil #CampusVigils #HandsOffOurStudents #RiseUpHigherEd

Image of a handwritten postcard with a question written by a Columbia community member for the Board of Trustees: “1- Why don't you defend your students and protect them from deportation?”

Columbia faculty & staff wearing black stand at a vigil on the Morningside campus and hold images of students and colleagues who have been detained / persecuted by the government

Columbia faculty & staff wearing black stand at a vigil on the CUIMC campus and hold images of students and colleagues who have been detained / persecuted by the government

010

CUIMC Stands Up @cuimcstandsup.bsky.social · 10/06/2025

That’s only 10 out of hundreds of questions we collected in just one week for the @Columbia.bsky.social Board of Trustees — but don’t worry! We’ll be sharing more tomorrow, and the next day, etc. because it’s important that these powerful questions are heard! (6/6)

Handwritten postcards spread out on a wooden surface

010

CUIMC Stands Up @cuimcstandsup.bsky.social · 10/06/2025

“Why is peaceful protests by students treated as a threat, while external political coercion is met with deference? What values are you protecting if not the free exchange of ideas?” [transcribed] “What are you guys doing to protect international students?” (5/?)

“What are you guys doing to protect
International students??”

120

CUIMC Stands Up @cuimcstandsup.bsky.social · 10/06/2025

“Where is our moral compass directed? Where is our backbone?” “Why aren’t you fighting harder to get our grant money back?” “Why are you so spineless — take a stand” (4/?)

110

CUIMC Stands Up @cuimcstandsup.bsky.social · 10/06/2025

“What is the point of a university if we are willing to sacrifice its independence and core values? – Asst prof. in MSPH” “How can you justify selling out your values? Where will you stand in the eyes of history?” “Why don't you stand up to Trump?” (3/?)

”How can you justify selling out your values? Where will you stand in the eyes of history?”

110

CUIMC Stands Up @cuimcstandsup.bsky.social · 10/06/2025

“As Jewish staff, I’m very disappointed that the CU administration is allowing the Trump administration to weaponize anti-semitism to further its white supremacist authoritarian goals. Can you not? Is this not so clear that that is what they are doing?” (2/?)

110

CUIMC Stands Up @cuimcstandsup.bsky.social · 10/06/2025

After reading aloud the questions on the steps of Low & taping some on the door, faculty & staff (+ Roaree 🦁) delivered the postcards to administrative staff for the @columbiauniversity.bsky.social BoTs. Here, a postcard asks: “What evidence do you have that appeasement works?” Signed: “a student”

Picking up piles of postcards from the ground

a postcard asks:

“What evidence do you have that appeasement works?” Signed: “a student”

110

CUIMC Stands Up @cuimcstandsup.bsky.social · 10/06/2025

Last week, faculty & staff across @columbiauniversity.bsky.social campuses gathered questions for the Board of Trustees on postcards then delivered them during their meeting on campus! 📬 HUNDREDS of CU community members wrote postcards w/ questions or submitted them online ✉️✍️ Read them here ⬇️

Messy pile of postcards with handwritten questions for Columbia trustees

group of faculty and staff and Roaree the lion mascot knocking on the door of low library attempting to deliver the postcards

Photo of Low Library at Columbia taken from in front of the Alma Mater statue which is visible to the left, on the right the postcards which were left taped to the door of Low are visible in the background

1137

CUIMC Stands Up @cuimcstandsup.bsky.social · 31/05/2025

Our “Defunded Science Fair” was a huge success! Thank you to all who showed up to present. We had such great conversations with alumni on campus for alumni weekend. If you missed it, we hope to host another — stay tuned!

0175

CUIMC Stands Up @cuimcstandsup.bsky.social · 31/05/2025

TODAY (5/31) 12pm: Columbia University researchers whose grants have been cut will be at our "DEFUNDED SCIENCE FAIR" 🧬🔬🔭🥼🧪🌍🌋📊 Come out to College Walk to hear about our work, why funding was terminated, & how this defunding will impact the Columbia community — and health care & science everywhere.

Poster for the “Defunded Science Fair”
White text on blue background, a slightly transparent image of Alma Mater (a statue on Columbia’s campus) and Low Library taken from a low angle boarders the bottom of the page.

Learn about
The US Government's CUTS to Science and Medical Research at Universities
CUT: Anything on Climate
CUT: Anything on Global Health
CUT: Anything on Social Determinants of Health
CUT: Anything on Women's Health
CUT: Anything on LGBTQ+ Health
AND
At Columbia the CUTS have gone even further including research for Alzheimer's, Cancer, Pediatric health, and EVERY young medical and public health investigator training program!
Come join to hear from Columbia University Science and Medical Researchers who have lost their federal grant funding for the Defunded Science Fair
What: Posters and meet and greet (*Ask me about my defunded
research') with Columbia Science and Medical researchers
When: Saturday 5/31/2025 Alumni Weekend 12-2pm
Where: On College Walk between Low and Butler Library (or alternatively
on the sidewalk on Broadway and 115th).

Black text on white background, all caps, reads: ASK ME ABOUT
MY
DEFUNDED RESEARCH

Underneath, red text on white background, all caps, with a boarder around and in the style of a stamp with a printed texture, the word:
“TERMINATED”

045

CUIMC Stands Up @cuimcstandsup.bsky.social · 31/05/2025

This special vigil brought into focus the contrast between the Columbia that invites its alumni from all over the world back to campus for a weekend to reunite…

031

CUIMC Stands Up @cuimcstandsup.bsky.social · 31/05/2025

What does it mean to celebrate "reunion" in this context of repression of political speech, criminalization, and civil rights violations?

011

CUIMC Stands Up @cuimcstandsup.bsky.social · 31/05/2025

Today, faculty and staff from across Columbia's campuses again stood together in silence for one hour to call for an end to the persecution of our colleagues and students. 📸: @ninaber.bsky.social #CampusVigils #HandsOff #RiseUpHigherEd

36221

CUIMC Stands Up @cuimcstandsup.bsky.social · 30/05/2025

Columbia community! Join us for a SPECIAL VIGIL TOMORROW (5/30) at 12pm at the Sundial on Morningside campus. Our silent vigils call for an end to the government persecution of our students and colleagues. Please wear black if you’d like to stand with us for this 1-hour vigil.

031

CUIMC Stands Up @cuimcstandsup.bsky.social · 14/05/2025

The severe impact of federal grant terminations on critical health research and training is why we have been calling on CU leadership to provide backup funds for researchers. Instead, nearly 200 researchers have already been let go. Protect our research! gothamist.com/news/soul-cr...

067

CUIMC Stands Up @cuimcstandsup.bsky.social · 12/05/2025

Simultaneous vigils were held at schools across the country, including UCLA… #CampusVigils #HandsOff #RiseUpHigherEd

040

CUIMC Stands Up @cuimcstandsup.bsky.social · 12/05/2025

Today Columbia faculty & staff again gathered, now at both Morningside & CUIMC, for silent vigils calling to end the persecution of our students & scholars. Concurrent vigil on campuses across the country will all continue weekly — Mondays, 12pm ET. Join us. #CampusVigils #HandsOff #RiseUpHigherEd

140

CUIMC Stands Up @cuimcstandsup.bsky.social · 12/05/2025

Columbia faculty & staff again gathered, now at both Morningside & CUIMC for silent vigils calling to end the persecution of our students & scholars. Concurrent vigils held on campuses across the country will all continue weekly — Mondays, 12pm ET. Join us. #CampusVigils #HandsOff #RiseUpHigherEd

4308

CUIMC Stands Up @cuimcstandsup.bsky.social · 12/05/2025

Our toolkit can help with organizing a vigil on your campus in solidarity — because all of them are ALL our students and colleagues. ✊ Link to toolkit: docs.google.com/document/d/1...

Screenshot of hands off toolkit: campus vigils for abducted students and colleagues

031

CUIMC Stands Up @cuimcstandsup.bsky.social · 12/05/2025

Tomorrow! 5/12 @ Noon ET‼️ Columbia faculty, staff, & students will again come together for a silent vigil calling for the release of our fellow scholars & for an end to their unlawful persecution We’re gathering weekly as long as we need to 2 locations: 📍Morningside: Sundial 📍CUIMC: Haven Plaza

2125

CUIMC Stands Up @cuimcstandsup.bsky.social · 06/05/2025

Join us next week: Monday 12pm Eastern — at CU, or organize a vigil on your own campus in solidarity. 🛠️ Toolkit coming soon!

Faculty stand in the rain holding umbrellas and photos of abducted students.

030

CUIMC Stands Up @cuimcstandsup.bsky.social · 06/05/2025

Yesterday, faculty and staff at Columbia, Tufts and Georgetown Universities launched Campus Vigils for Abducted Students Professors & staff at 3 universities whose students have been abducted held simultaneous vigils to call for their release, and will do so weekly until every abductee comes home

Black-clad faculty stand in the rain at the Sundial on Columbia’s Morningside campus in front of Columbia’s Butler Library. Many have umbrellas, and all hold black and white images of abducted students.

13813

CUIMC Stands Up @cuimcstandsup.bsky.social · 22/04/2025

Join us TODAY at 12:30pm Haven Ave Plaza (at the medical center)! CUIMC Stands Up and Speaks OUT! We rally to say HANDS OFF our students, science, patients, classrooms, and community!

Flyer that reads:
CUIMC Stands Up and Speaks OUT!
Come join the CUIMC Community of Scholars, Students, Healers, the Care-Givers and the Cared-For to Say HANDS OFF! Our students, our science, our patients, our classrooms, OUR COMMUNITY!
April 22nd @ 12:30pm
Haven Ave Plaza

065

CUIMC Stands Up @cuimcstandsup.bsky.social · 21/04/2025

TOMORROW: CUIMC Stands Up and Speaks OUT! Join us tomorrow at 12:30pm in Haven Ave Plaza at the Medical Center for a rally to say HANDS OFF our students, science, patients, classrooms, and community!

073

CUIMC Stands Up @cuimcstandsup.bsky.social · 19/04/2025

Columbia Medical Campus (CUIMC) Students! Join us this Monday, 4/21, 8-9:30pm for a Virtual Townhall! Bring your stories & questions, leave w/ actionable strategies — and a new community of CUIMC affiliates fighting gov repression & cuts to science & higher ed ✊🤝 Register here: bit.ly/CUIMCtownhall

2147

CUIMC Stands Up @cuimcstandsup.bsky.social · 16/04/2025

TOMORROW! Join CUIMC Stands Up and @aaupcu.bsky.social in uniting with 20+ groups from schools across NYC to resist attacks on higher education together! ✊ March from Washington Square, 3PM 📣 Rally @ Foley Square, 4PM RALLY FOR THE RIGHT TO LEARN (4/17)

poster for RALLY FOR THE RIGHT TO LEARN on APRIL 17. March from Washington Square Park at 3pm and Rally at Foley Square at 4pm. Original illustration of the arch in Washington Square Park.

042

CUIMC Stands Up @cuimcstandsup.bsky.social · 14/04/2025

Scenes from our demonstration today urging the Columbia Board of Trustees to protect our patients, students, research and teaching.

Image of protest with a speaker on the Columbia sundial surrounded by people holding protest posters.

Image of protest with a speaker sitting surrounded by people holding protest posters.

Image of protest with a speaker and a person holding a megaphone

Image of a group of people in regalia and white coats holding signs that say e.g. Columbia Fight Back.

14915

CUIMC Stands Up @cuimcstandsup.bsky.social · 14/04/2025

Our call to the Board in full detail is here.

Image of full call to the board, a text document, summarized in the main post.

083

CUIMC Stands Up @cuimcstandsup.bsky.social · 14/04/2025

Join us in ONE HOUR (12:30pm) on the *Sundial* on college walk! We're calling for the Columbia Board of Trustees to resist the Trump administration's attack on our patients, students, research and teaching! At 1:15pm we'll repeat our demands outside the gate at 116th and Amsterdam.

Flyer that says: CUIMC Stands Up
Join Columbia physicians, nurses, researchers, and faculty as we call on our Board of Trustees to resist the Trump administration's assault on our students, our research, our teaching, and our patients.
Monday, April 14th
12:30pm
Sundial (College Walk)

230

CUIMC Stands Up @cuimcstandsup.bsky.social · 12/04/2025

Join us on Monday as we call on Columbia and the Board of Trustees to resist the Trump administration's assault on our students, research, teaching and patients! 📍Low Library Steps ⏰ 12:30pm Monday April 14

02622

CUIMC Stands Up @cuimcstandsup.bsky.social · 30/03/2025

“America wants a country that benefits from advancing knowledge. We have to fight for that.” —Jeremy Veenstra-VanderWeele, MD, Professor of Developmental Neuropsychiatry @ Columbia University Irving Medical Center #defendresearch #defendscience #defendhighered @aaupcu.bsky.social @aaup.bsky.social

1258

CUIMC Stands Up @cuimcstandsup.bsky.social · 29/03/2025

Over 200 CUIMC medical, public health, and nursing researchers, clinical, support staff, and students took a stand in Haven Plaza Thursday March 27th. Standing up to Protect our Research, Protect our Students, Defend Science, Academic freedom and voicing the need for Columbia to Fight Back!!!

12311