Columbia University

in the city of new york

University Senate
Student Affairs Committee

Media Contact:
Ramis Wadood
rjw2138@columbia.edu
Student Affairs Committee (SAC) Votes to Support Plaque Recognizing Lenape Land
NEW YORK, February 5th The University Senates Student Affairs Committee (SAC) has
voted in favor of supporting the installation of a plaque, monument, or landmark acknowledging that the
land on which Columbias campus rests was once inhabited by Indigenous peoples referred to, generally,
as the Lenape. This proposal for recognitionspearheaded by the Native American Council (NAC)has
received widespread support from students, and has been further encouraged by faculty and
administrators.
In order to appreciate all aspects of our Universitys history, the installation of this plaque and the
acknowledgement of these peoples is absolutely necessary. Columbia has a great many landmarks and
statues acknowledging our schools rich revolutionary and colonial history, with plaques commemorating
the War of 1812 and the Revolutionary Wars Battle of Harlem Heights; in addition, statues of Alexander
Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson grace Columbias south campus. There also exist a number of other
commemorative plaques that honor our more recent history. Despite this great reverence for our
Universitys past, the fact remains that there is no on-campus acknowledgement of the Native peoples
living here before the arrival of colonial figures. It is only right that the University also honors the
original inhabitants of Manhattan and fully recognizes its rich history.
In commemorating the Lenape, SAC also hopes to recognize the impact colonialism has had on
Native American peoples in Manhattan and around the country. The period of Dutch settlement in
Manhattan forced Native American peoples to confront great tribulations as they fought for both their
cultural and physical survival. This period has had lasting effects on the centuries following; today,
Native Americans continue to face social inequality, disproportionately high crime and poverty rates, and
lower education levels. The installation of a plaque is but a symbolic gesture recognizing this history.
Thus, SAC calls upon the Trustees of Columbia Universityin conference with language
approved by the Native American Council and current descendants and existing tribes of Lenape
Indiansto approve the process of implementing an on-campus, highly visible plaque acknowledging the
Lenape and their integral role in shaping the land on which so many of us live and learn.
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About the Columbia University Senate
The Columbia University Senate is the university-wide legislative and policy-making body at Columbia
University. It is mandated to consider all matters affecting more than one school, or those of the entire
university. The Senate is composed of 108 elected and appointed members, representing faculty, students,
administration, staff, alumni, and research officers. The Senate was established in 1969. More information
about the Senate is available at http://www.columbia.edu/cu/senate/.
The Student Affairs Committee of the Columbia University Senate comprises the 25 elected student
senators and observers within the Columbia University Senate. SAC is the only body that
comprehensively represents all 36,000 students across all 20 constituent and affiliated schools of
Columbia University.