The College Fix

An annual student entertainment event at Columbia University has been put on hold in “firm solidarity with the Palestine Liberation Movement.”

The Columbia College Student Council announced this past Wednesday the suspension of Glass House Rocks, a combination of “dance, a cappella, theater, and improv comedy,” as several groups involved in the event “opted not to perform this year.”

In an Instagram announcement, the CCSC said it “understands that this is a time of grief, due to the current crisis in Palestine,” and that many don’t want to partake of celebrations “at such a time of extreme loss.”

Some groups, such as the student dance group Raw Elementz, put out their own statements on the boycott (pictured).

As noted by the Columbia Spectator, the Columbia University Apartheid Divest coalition on January 25 had called for a “general boycott” of all Columbia-related events.

CCSC Vice President of Campus Life Anand Chitnis said the council didn’t want to put members of any performance group in a position to “cross the picket line,” so to speak.

But the CCSC also noted Glass House Rocks would go on at some point given it’s already been paid for with a “considerable amount” and money via student fees.

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CU Raqs Sharqi, the “only Middle Eastern dance group at Columbia,” expressed disappointed in the boycott — but only because it wanted to offer a pro-Palestine protest during its performance.

From the story:

“As the only Middle Eastern dance group on campus, this was a really big opportunity for us to showcase our culture, especially in the context of the world events right now,” [CU Raqs Sharqi’s Chrissy] Gabor said. “I think that by canceling these opportunities for us, especially as a Middle Eastern group, … it’s stifling our only opportunity to outwardly show our support for Palestine and put that into a cultural context.”

Members of the group were planning to wear “some type of political statement” during their performance, according to another member of CU Raqs Sharqi who spoke to Spectator on the condition of anonymity, citing safety concerns.

“I have no issue at all with the statement that’s intended behind this action,” the member said. “I just think that it could have been done with more … consideration of what action is actually productive and will yield results in terms of protecting free speech and making the admin aware of our grievances.”

Gabor said for the College Student Council to “social media blast” the Glass House Rocks boycott announcement without first notifying groups scheduled to participate was “unprofessional” and “performative.”

MORE: Columbia queer/non-binary student group ‘derecognized’ due to antisemitism, racism

IMAGES: Erika Sioson/X; Raw Elementz/Instagram

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