In this episode of Stories Mediators Tell, Carol B. Liebman reflects on her role mediating a high-stakes campus conflict at Columbia University in the 1990s.

As student protests intensified—escalating from hunger strikes to building occupations and arrests—university leaders sought help amid mounting concerns about student safety, academic futures, and institutional reputation. Liebman stepped in to work with both administrators and student leaders as deadlines loomed and emotions ran high.

What followed was a tense, deeply human negotiation process that tested trust, resilience, and the power of dialogue. In sharing this story, Liebman offers insight into mediating institutional conflict and the unexpected connection that can emerge when people commit to staying in conversation.

Kukin Program for Conflict Resolution at Cardozo School of Law