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In Focus: Rosenbury gets inaugurated, protests ensue
Witness Rosenbury’s inauguration, amid the presence of protest, through the lens of Spectator photographers.
By Gabriella Gregor Splaver / Senior Staff PhotographerLaura Rosenbury was inaugurated as the ninth president of Barnard on Friday, navigating a ceremony marked by the presence of 10 protesters inside and at a picket line outside. Witness moments of the day’s event unfold through the lens of Spectator photographers.By Gabriella Gregor Splaver and Judy Goldstein • February 5, 2024 at 5:28 AM
By Gabriella Gregor Splaver and Judy Goldstein • February 5, 2024 at 5:28 AM
Laura Rosenbury was inaugurated as the ninth president of Barnard on Friday, navigating a ceremony marked by the presence of 10 protesters inside the event and picket lines outside. Witness moments of the day’s event unfold through the lens of Spectator photographers.
The inauguration took place at Riverside Church in the same room where Martin Luther King Jr., Nelson Mandela, and Marian Wright Edelman had once stood.
With the presence of multiple police officers, boycott picket lines formed by Columbia University Apartheid Divest took place on both the west and east entrances of Riverside Church.
Outside the inauguration at the Riverside Drive entrance, Barnard faculty joined protesters.
Inside at the beginning of the inauguration, attendees were asked to turn on their blue candles when they heard the Barnard community group they belonged to. Following this, multiple speakers from the college’s board of trustees, community members, and friends took the stage.
Mariame Sissoko, BC ’24, president of the Barnard Student Government Association, urged Rosenbury: “As students share their wants, their needs, and their desires with you, I hope that you prioritize, safeguard, and nurture them.”
Cheryl Glicker Milstein, BC ’82, chair of the board of trustees, presented Rosenbury with the insignia of the Office of the President. The medal, composed of bronze, silver, and gold, features Athena on its face.
Less than a minute after Rosenbury began her speech, the first of 10 protesters stood up shouting, “Shame on you, Laura.”
At first, Rosenbury paused her speech in response to the multiple interruptions. She then began speaking again saying, “You see we have so much passion here at Barnard, and it is so important and moving for me to stand up here as just one member of this incredible Barnard family.”
As more protesters stood up and interrupted Rosenbury’s speech, they were all escorted out by event personnel.
Rosenbury continued speaking, saying, “You will see we have some of the most brilliant young people and alumni in the world with fierce convictions. Feel free to speak.”
Rosenbury’s inaugural address then proceeded without any additional interruptions. Rosenbury acknowledged Greta Gerwig, BC ’06, and her accomplishment of “taking on the patriarchy in the biggest blockbuster movie of the decade,” with her then revealing pink underneath her robe and stating that “Barnard stands with Greta.”
After discussing her five distinct points of priorities, Rosenbury’s inaugural address came to a close as she stated, “All of us will come together right now in this moment to begin our work together as one community, as one Barnard, boldly leaning into our history, which makes us special and which we will never lose while fearlessly leading into a new future, together.”
Rosenbury left the inauguration smiling, walking closely with her first-year roommate at Harvard-Radcliffe College, Nalini P. Kotamraju.
As attendees exited Riverside Church, picket lines on the Claremont Avenue entrance still continued.
The inauguration of Rosenbury came to an end in the early afternoon with an all-campus celebration that immediately followed.
Senior Staff Photographer Gabriella Raine Gregor-Splaver can be contacted at gabriella.gregor-splaver@columbiaspectator.com. Follow her on X @rainepuff
Senior Staff Photographer Judy Goldstein can be contacted at judy.goldstein@columbiaspectator.com. Follow her on X @judygoldfish.
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