Columbia University Imposes Punishments on Students for Pro-Palestinian Protests

Columbia University Punishes Students Involved in Pro-Palestinian Protests Amid Antisemitism Concerns

In a bold move, Columbia University announced on Thursday that it had taken disciplinary action against students who had participated in the occupation of a campus building during pro-Palestinian protests last spring. This decision comes in the wake of the Trump administration’s revelation that it had canceled $400 million in federal grants and contracts, citing the university’s inadequate response to antisemitism on campus.

Interim president of Columbia University, Katrina Armstrong, acknowledged the administration’s concerns as legitimate and stated that the institution is actively working with the government to address them. The campus has been a hotbed of tensions, with protests and counter-protests sparking allegations of antisemitism, Islamophobia, and racism.

The university’s judicial board handed down punishments to students involved in the occupation, including multi-year suspensions, temporary degree revocations, and expulsions. However, the identities of the disciplined students and the exact number of individuals facing consequences were not disclosed.

The protests at Columbia University were part of a larger wave of anti-Israel demonstrations that swept across U.S. college campuses following the 2023 Hamas attack on Israel and the subsequent Israeli offensive on Gaza. Protesters called for divestment from Israeli interests and an end to U.S. military assistance to Israel, among other demands.

In a related development, federal immigration agents detained Columbia student Mahmoud Khalil over the weekend. Khalil, a leader of last year’s campus protests, is facing deportation at the administration’s behest. However, a federal judge has temporarily blocked his deportation, signaling a potential legal battle ahead.

The Trump administration has vowed to crack down on what it perceives as pro-Hamas protesters, setting the stage for further confrontations on college campuses across the country. Columbia University’s handling of the situation will undoubtedly be closely watched as the debate over free speech, activism, and antisemitism continues to unfold.

(With inputs from Reuters)