Columbia University in New York City switched to remote learning on Monday due to safety concerns caused by the pro-Palestinian protests that has gone on for almost a week, unsettling Jewish students at the Ivy League school.

The president of the university, Minouche Shafik, announced the move on Monday morning in a statement that promised that the situation would be resolved in the coming days.

“To deescalate the rancor and give us all a chance to consider next steps, I am announcing that all classes will be held virtually on Monday. Faculty and staff who can work remotely should do so; essential personnel should report to work according to university policy. Our preference is that students who do not live on campus will not come to campus,” Shafik said.

According to her, steps school officials will take to resolve the situation “includes continuing discussions with the student protestors and identifying actions we can take as a community to enable us to peacefully complete the term and return to respectful engagement with each other.”

“There is a terrible conflict raging in the Middle East with devastating human consequences,” the statement read. “I understand that many are experiencing deep moral distress and want Columbia to help alleviate this by taking action. We should be having serious conversations about how Columbia can contribute. There will be many views across our diverse community about how best to do this and that is as it should be. But we cannot have one group dictate terms and attempt to disrupt important milestones like graduation to advance their point of view. Let’s sit down and talk and argue and find ways to compromise on solutions.”

Shafik went on to say that she would be open to discussions about whether or not police should be used on campus to disrupt the demonstrations.

Students have reportedly been holding an encampment demonstration, in which they erected tents on a central lawn on the Columbia campus. Insisting they would not leave until their demands are met, the protesters are asking the university to divest from companies with ties to Israel among other demands.

The acts of anti-Semitism being displayed on campus have been criticized by leaders from both sides of the political aisle, including President Joe Biden, New York City Democratic Mayor Eric Adams, and House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA).

In his Passover statement on Sunday night, Biden wrote, “Even in recent days, we’ve seen harassment and calls for violence against Jews. This blatant Antisemitism is reprehensible and dangerous – and it has absolutely no place on college campuses, or anywhere in our country.”

In a post on X, Adams wrote, “I am horrified and disgusted with the antisemitism being spewed at and around the Columbia University campus. Hate has no place in our city, and I have instructed the NYPD to investigate any violation of law they receive a report about and will arrest anyone found to be breaking the law.”

“What’s happening at Columbia is outrageous and un-American. No student of any race or religion should have to leave campus because it’s become too dangerous. The universities allowing rampant antisemitism to rage on campus must be held immediately accountable,” Johnson wrote in a post on X.