In a shocking twist, Columbia University has taken a strong stance against pro-Palestinian protesters.
The institution has expelled or suspended several students who occupied Hamilton Hall during protests last spring. Additionally, some students who had already graduated had their diplomas temporarily revoked.
According to a campus-wide email sent Thursday, the university stated that its judicial board had imposed sanctions on dozens of students involved in the protest, basing the actions on an “evaluation of the severity of behaviors.” However, the university did not provide specifics on how many students faced expulsions, suspensions, or diploma revocations.
This decision comes after the arrest of well-known activist Mahmoud Khalil, a prominent figure in the campus protests. The Trump administration has also increased pressure on Columbia, stripping the university of over $400 million in federal funding due to what it claims is the college’s failure to address rising antisemitism on campus.
The protests, which began with a tent encampment opposing the Gaza war, escalated on April 30th, 2024, when students barricaded themselves inside Hamilton Hall. The New York Police Department raided the building shortly after, arresting dozens of students. While 31 of the initial 46 arrests were not pursued by the Manhattan district attorney due to a lack of evidence, those involved still faced disciplinary action from the university. Some protesters declined plea deals as a show of solidarity with those facing harsher consequences.
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