Columbia University Students Rally On Campus For Tuition Strike

MORNINGSIDE HEIGHTS, NY — Hundreds of students gathered in front of Columbia University President Lee Bollinger's house on Sunday to kick off a socially distanced rally to protest the cost of education and the school's gentrification of Harlem.

The rallygoers are among the more than 4,000 students who have signed a petition seeking reduced tuition, a more democratic university, and various other demands related to the university's investments in surrounding neighborhoods.

The students have committed to not paying their tuition for the upcoming year if their demands aren't met.

• Read More: 1,300 Students Threaten Columbia University Tuition Strike

Led by student organizers of the petition, the group made its way to the center of campus for a news conference about the effort.

Student speakers were joined by several New York elected officials and candidates, including City Council candidate Maria Ordonez, mayoral candidate Dianne Morales, City Council candidate Joshua Clennon, and Assembly Members Ron Kim, Mark Levine and Ben Kallos.

Manhattan district attorney candidate Tahanie Aboushi also spoke.

"It was great to see so many people come out to support a worthy cause," student organizer and Columbia student Christian Flores told Patch. "We're demonstrating that we have momentum and we're ready to continue fighting for equitable education."

Student organizers of the petition call it the "largest tuition strike in American history."

More about Sunday's rally can be found in Columbia's student-run newspaper.