USA
Columbia University expels anti-Israel students for last year’s building takeover
Jewish campus leaders and activists react to Columbia University's disciplinary actions
March 14, 2025 15:49
Jewish campus leaders and activists react to Columbia University's disciplinary actions
March 14, 2025 15:49Columbia University in New York City announced on Thursday that it had expelled, suspended and revoked the degrees of student activists involved in the takeover of a campus building last spring during heated anti-Israel protests.
The punishments came as the university faced increasing federal scrutiny, including the detention of campus activist Mahmoud Khalil and the Trump administration’s decision to withhold hundreds of millions of dollars in funding over allegations of antisemitism.
The university’s judicial board issued “multi-year suspensions, temporary degree revocations, and expulsions” in response to the occupation of Hamilton Hall, Columbia said in a statement.
It was “committed to enforcing the university’s rules and policies and improving our disciplinary processes,” it added.
While the university did not disclose the number affected, thecampus coalition of anti-Israel groups, Columbia University Apartheid Divest, claimed that 22 students had been sanctioned, saying that nine students from Columbia and its affiliate, Barnard College, had been expelled.
Jewish campus leaders, who have long criticised Columbia for what they see as lax enforcement of campus rules, applauded the university’s decision.
Brian Cohen, the head of the college’s Kraft Centre for Jewish Life, wrote on X, “This ruling is an important first step in righting the wrongs of the past year and a half.”
The protest last year saw students forcibly occupy Hamilton Hall and refuse to leave, leading the university administration to call for the police to clear it.
Though dozens of arrests were made, most charges were eventually dropped.
Jewish and Israeli students and faculty have said the protest included antisemitic harassment, creating a hostile atmosphere on campus.
Congressional Republicans have criticised the university for not disciplining more student protesters and last month demanded the release of all disciplinary records related to anti-Zionist activism.
On Thursday, Khalil and seven other plaintiffs filed a lawsuit seeking to block Congressional investigators from obtaining the records.
The previous week, the Trump administration cut $400 million in funding to Columbia over antisemitism concerns and threatened further financial penalties.
A federal antisemitism task force is also scheduled to visit Columbia and nine other US campuses.
The White House has stated that Khalil is being deported for distributing pro-Hamas propaganda.
Just days before his detention, he participated in a protest at Barnard where Hamas material was distributed. Federal immigration laws prohibit non-citizens from supporting terrorist organisations.
But his lawyers say there is no evidence that he has given support to any designated terrorist group.
Khalil’s supporters argue he is being persecuted for his activism in violation of free speech protections.
His detention has sparked protests in New York, with hundreds gathering outside federal court on Wednesday as Khalil’s lawyers fight to challenge the detention.
On Thursday, Jewish anti-Zionists stormed Trump Tower in a demand for Khalil’s release.
Dozens of anti-Israel activist groups have announced plans for a protest outside Columbia’s gates on Friday.