As Columbia University and Barnard College resumed classes, pro-Palestinian protests erupted, with demonstrators calling for the universities to divest from Israel. Students from groups like Columbia University Apartheid Divest (CUAD) and Students for Justice in Palestine blocked entrances, vandalized statues, and clashed with police, signaling ongoing unrest. The protests follow a tumultuous spring semester that saw the resignation of Columbia's president, Minouche Shafik, after police interventions to clear protest encampments. The new interim president, Katrina Armstrong, has started listening sessions and issued new protest guidelines, but activists remain committed to increasing their actions until their demands are met. Increased security measures and a police presence marked the first day back, reflecting heightened tensions and the potential for continued disruptions.