Columbia University, one of the most prestigious institutions in the United States, has taken strict disciplinary action against nearly 80 students who took part in antiwar protests, particularly those criticizing Israel’s ongoing military operations in Gaza. The penalties include suspensions lasting up to three years, permanent expulsions, and even revocation of degrees.
The protest movement, organized by Columbia University Apartheid Divest (CUAD), has been calling for the institution to sever all financial and institutional ties with Israel. In a public statement, CUAD claimed that close to 80 students were subjected to severe academic penalties due to their participation in protests over the past year.
University officials, in their own statement issued Tuesday, said the latest actions are a result of the occupation of Butler Library in May 2025 and a Gaza solidarity encampment set up during Alumni Weekend in spring 2024. Columbia emphasized that disruptions of academic operations violate university regulations, and such actions would inevitably face institutional consequences.
CUAD, however, described the disciplinary response as disproportionate, especially when compared to prior incidents of peaceful protests or teach-ins that did not concern Palestine. “The sanctions far exceed previous university responses and are clearly aimed at silencing support for Palestinian freedom,” the group said, reaffirming its continued commitment to anti-apartheid activism.
The pro-Palestinian demonstrations at Columbia, particularly the 2024 encampment, were among the earliest student-led actions that sparked a larger wave of global campus movements demanding divestment from Israeli-linked corporations. Columbia's campus was forcibly cleared after hundreds of New York City police officers were invited onto university grounds, resulting in several arrests.
Still, student resistance persisted. During final exams in May 2025, protesters once again occupied Butler Library, reiterating their demands that Columbia end all ties with defense contractors and companies involved in the Israeli military.
The university’s Judicial Board later confirmed the issuance of the harshest disciplinary actions, marking them as final judgments relating to the student activities during the so-called "reading period". Specific numbers regarding expulsions were not provided.
Meanwhile, the university is under political and financial pressure from the Trump administration, which had earlier slashed around $400 million in federal funding to Columbia. The administration accused the institution of failing to adequately safeguard Jewish students from “pervasive harassment,” a claim Columbia denies. Claire Shipman, the interim president of Columbia, received strong backlash from students during graduation ceremonies for her administration's approach to dealing with the protests.
Elsewhere in the Ivy League, Harvard University is also facing significant pressure. Unlike Columbia, Harvard has taken legal action against the government’s funding threats, attempting to push back against alleged political interference in academic institutions.
The situation escalated further on Tuesday as Israel’s siege of Gaza continued, resulting in reports of severe malnutrition and starvation. According to Gaza health officials, at least 15 people — including a six-week-old infant — died within 24 hours due to food and medical shortages.
One of the protest leaders, Mahmoud Khalil, who became a symbolic figure in the Columbia protests, has faced additional challenges. He was previously detained in Louisiana by immigration authorities and has now reportedly met with lawmakers in Washington, DC, following his release. His case emerged amid ongoing threats from President Trump to deport pro-Palestinian activists across the country.
Despite the mounting risks and institutional backlash, student activists remain resolute. Their message is clear: the movement for Palestinian rights — and free expression in academic spaces — is far from over.
"Edited and published by Veritas Global News to maintain accuracy and originality"
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