In a recent development at Columbia University, several students have faced either expulsion or suspension after taking part in the occupation of a campus building during pro-Palestinian demonstrations last spring, as revealed by university officials. Additionally, diplomas of certain graduates who participated in the protests have been temporarily rescinded.
A campus-wide email detailed that the sanctions were the result of actions by a judicial board that reviewed the behaviors of students involved in the Hamilton Hall occupation, which aimed to protest the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Although the university did not disclose the exact number of students affected by expulsion, suspension, or degree revocation, it stressed that decisions were made after carefully considering the gravity of each student’s actions.
This decision comes amid heightened tensions as Columbia grapples with the arrest of Mahmoud Khalil, a prominent Palestinian campus activist, by federal immigration authorities. This situation has been further exacerbated by the Trump administration’s decision to withdraw over $400 million in federal funds from the university, citing inadequacies in addressing campus antisemitism. Critics have pointed to the lack of timely disciplinary actions against those involved in the Hamilton Hall events as part of the university’s shortcomings.
The occupation of the building was a prominent development that followed a tent encampment demonstration, which had a ripple effect inspiring similar protests at other universities nationwide. On April 30, 2024, a contingent of students, along with supporters, fortified Hamilton Hall with makeshift barricades, marking an intense phase of campus protests. Subsequently, university leaders requested intervention, leading to a police raid that detained numerous individuals connected to both the occupation and the prior encampment.
Following a June court session, it was decided that criminal charges would not be pursued for 31 out of 46 individuals initially apprehended for trespassing during these events. Nevertheless, university-level disciplinary actions remained on the table, with some students subsequently facing hearings that were overseen by the longstanding University Judicial Board. Students who participated solely in the encampment without entering the building were relieved to learn that prior suspensions would be their sole penalties.
The disciplinary measures have provoked political scrutiny, particularly from House Republicans, who have threatened to cut substantial federal funding should the university fail to hand over disciplinary records related to campus protests. In response, Khalil and seven students, using aliases, have initiated legal action to prevent Congress from obtaining records from Columbia and Barnard College. The lawsuit, filed in Manhattan federal court, aims to secure a permanent block against the Republican-led House Committee on Education and the Workforce from procuring these records, arguing that such actions infringe upon First Amendment rights by attempting to suppress dissenting speech and association.
Despite the ongoing litigation, a committee representative reiterated that the pursuit of this information remains critical to shaping relevant legislative measures and ensuring accountability. Meanwhile, both Columbia and Barnard have not publicly commented on the lawsuit.
Adding to the controversy, a newly established disciplinary board has initiated fresh proceedings against students, including Khalil, who have spoken critically of Israel, raising concerns among free speech advocates. Notably, Khalil was not implicated in the Hamilton Hall occupation itself.
The decision to expel students, however, has received support from certain faculty members, such as Gil Zussman, chair of the electrical engineering department and part of Columbia’s Task Force on Antisemitism. In a social media post, Zussman expressed approval, stating that enforcing consequences for breaking university rules is a vital step in reaffirming the institution’s focus on research and education.