Columbia expels, suspends students who participated in pro-Palestine protests
Students who participated in pro-Palestinian demonstrations at Columbia University will be disciplined, according to a Tuesday announcement from the university.
That includes nearly 80 students who took part in protests inside Columbia University’s main library in May and an encampment during alumni weekend last year, according to student group Columbia University Apartheid Divest.
Those student protesters now face expulsion or suspension for one to three years in addition to probation and degree revocations, according to the university.
“Our institution must focus on delivering on its academic mission for our community. And to create a thriving academic community, there must be respect for each other and the institution’s fundamental work, policies, and rules. Disruptions to academic activities are in violation of University policies and Rules, and such violations will necessarily generate consequences,” the university said.
The response comes amid negotiations with the Trump administration to restore $400 million in federal funding to the institution over campus antisemitism.
Columbia announced in May that it would lay off nearly 180 staffers due to funding issues.
The battle between the Trump administration and Columbia began when the institution was issued an ultimatum in March — either abide by a list of requirements laid out for them or jeopardize its “continued financial relationship with the United States government.”
The university had become known for its campus protests in response to the war in Gaza in addition to an encampment that took over a campus building in April.
In response to the administration’s demands, Columbia later agreed to implement a list of policy changes, including adopting a new definition of antisemitism, overhauling its rules for protests and conducting an immediate review of its Middle Eastern studies department.
When Harvard University was later sent a list of demands, the institution pushed back through two lawsuits.
Quickly following in Harvard’s footsteps, Columbia pledged not to make any agreement with the federal government that would “relinquish our independence and autonomy,” according to a message from the university’s president.
In response to the announced discipline of student protesters, Education and Workforce Committee Chairman Tim Walberg (R-MI) said Columbia has more progress to make before Jewish students feel safe on campus.
“The Committee’s work has underscored the depth and breadth of antisemitism at Columbia that can’t be ignored. We will continue to investigate antisemitism at Columbia and other universities and develop legislative solutions to address this persistent problem. Our nation’s institutions of higher education must fulfill their legal obligations under federal antidiscrimination law,” he said in a statement.
The Trump administration also has gone after individual protesters, such as Mahmoud Khalil , a lawful U.S. resident who was a graduate student at Columbia until December. Khalil was detained in March for engaging in pro-Palestinian protests and faced potential deportation. He is now suing the Trump administration.
Since the list of demands was sent to Columbia, the Trump administration hasn’t backed down. In June, the U.S. Department of Education threatened Columbia’s accreditation due to its response to campus antisemitism.
The department’s Office for Civil Rights notified Middle States Commission on Higher Education that Columbia is in violation of federal antidiscrimination laws, which do not meet accreditation standards.
Columbia University is being investigated by the U.S. Department of Education for failing to protect Jewish students from antisemitic discrimination and harassment. Six Massachusetts institutions are also part of the investigation .
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