In response to ongoing protests and police activity, Columbia Law School has taken the uncommon step of delaying its exams. This decision has emerged as the result of an emotionally heavy period for all members of the campus community, as was expressed in a letter from Columbia Law Dean Gillian Lester.
The law school’s decision reflects an effort to accommodate students who have been deeply affected by recent events – often finding themselves at the forefront of these protests, advocating for changes in police practices.
This unusual and significant move from one of the nation’s premier law schools certainly signals the palpable impact recent civic protests are having on various aspects of society, including legal education.
In the words of Dean Lester, “This has been a trying day, amidst a trying two weeks, and the crisis on campus has left no member of our community unaffected“.