Yesterday was a deeply meaningful day on campus as the Columbia/Barnard community came together to remember the lives lost on October 7th, 2023.
Throughout the day, the Kraft Center created a powerful memorial on the lawn in front of Butler Library, with 800 chairs, each bearing the photograph of someone murdered on October 7th. Students, faculty, staff, and members of the University community walked quietly through the display, pausing to look at the photographs, read the names, and reflect on the individual lives behind each one.
In the evening, more than 500 people gathered in Low Library for a memorial service, joined by members of University leadership and the broader Columbia community. The program featured powerful testimony from Natalie Sanandaji, a survivor of the Nova festival, and Ilay David, who spent months fighting for the release of his brother Evyatar from captivity in Gaza.
It was a day of remembrance, reflection, and community, honoring those who were lost and ensuring that their stories continue to be remembered.
