Columbia Expels Students Over Pro-Palestinian Protest

Columbia University has expelled, suspended, or temporarily revoked the degrees of students who occupied Hamilton Hall during pro-Palestinian protests last spring, according to announcements made on Thursday. This disciplinary action follows a months-long investigation by the university's judicial board, which evaluated the severity of the students' behaviors during the protest. The controversy has intensified with the Trump administration's decision to rescind over $400 million in federal grants to Columbia due to perceived inaction against antisemitism on campus. Additionally, the administration has begun detaining protest organizers, including Mahmoud Khalil, a student leader who faces potential deportation. The protests, which demanded divestment from Israeli interests and cessation of U.S. military aid to Israel, were sparked by a Hamas attack on Israel in October 2023. Columbia's administration has committed to enforcing university rules and improving disciplinary processes amidst these tensions.