NEW YORK (NEWSnet/AP) – Columbia University in New York has closed its facilities to the public in response to hundreds of activists participating in protests on campus.

Many of the protesters were voicing concerns over Israel’s continuing war against Hamas in the Gaza region, some while shouting anti-Israel and anti-police chants.

At one point, a pro-Israel demonstration begin. New York Police officers used barricades to keep both groups separate.

In the meantime, dozens of students set up tents on the main campus lawn, protesting university connections to companies that have toes to Israel. Campus police and NYPD officers started checking those in the area for student IDs. The Columbia Spectator reported that students faced a deadline to leave the encampment or face interim suspensions.

Columbia University’s president testified Wednesday before Congress, where she was questioned about anti-Semitic activity on campus and faced criticism from lawmakers who say her actions haven’t supported her words.

“Antisemitism has no place on our campus, and I am personally committed to doing everything I can to confront it directly,” university president Nemat Shafik said in her opening comments.

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