In what is being described as the largest mass disciplinary action in its history, Columbia University has suspended or expelled nearly 80 students for participating in pro-Palestine protests, according to the student group Columbia University Apartheid Divest (CUAD). The crackdown has drawn fierce criticism from human rights advocates, academics, and political commentators, reported the Al Jazeera.
The sanctions, which range from probation and suspensions of one to three years to full expulsions and revocation of degrees, were issued in connection with two high-profile incidents: a teach-in protest in May 2025 at Butler Library honoring Palestinian intellectual Basel al-Araj, and the “Revolt for Rafah” encampment during Alumni Weekend in 2024.
The Butler Library protest, which took place on May 7, saw over 100 students occupying the reading room. Acting University President Claire Shipman authorized police action, leading to the arrest of 78 students by the NYPD.
CUAD claims the disciplinary measures are part of a larger federal deal being negotiated between Columbia and the Trump administration, following the loss of nearly $400 million in federal funding in March 2025. The group alleges the deal includes Columbia formally partnering with the pro-Israel Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and adopting the controversial IHRA definition of antisemitism — a move critics argue conflates criticism of Israel with hatred toward Jews.
In March, Columbia controversially restructured its University Judicial Board (UJB), removing student members and faculty oversight. CUAD claims this move was orchestrated by Acting President Shipman in collaboration with White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, to ensure harsher punishments for pro-Palestine students.
According to CUAD, the university filed charges against students for participating in the peaceful Butler Library demonstration, which involved sharing reading materials about Basel al-Araj and calling on Columbia to divest from entities profiting from the Israeli military occupation. CUAD also reported that university security “body-slammed” students trying to leave the protest, resulting in multiple hospitalizations.
Students allege the disciplinary process lacked transparency and due process, with many receiving emails informing them of long-term suspensions or expulsions. The UJB is said to have demanded written apologies from students wishing to return to campus — a condition several students have vowed to reject.
“This is not a war. It is a campaign of erasure,” one student declared during disciplinary hearings. “Knowledge divorced from struggle is betrayal,” said another.
CUAD warns that failure to submit apologies will turn suspensions into permanent expulsions. The group has vowed to continue resisting the administration’s actions, stating, “We will not be deterred. We are committed to the struggle for Palestinian liberation.”
The university’s disciplinary response comes amid ongoing Israeli attacks on Gaza, where more than 100 people, including children, have died due to hunger-related causes under the Israeli blockade.
Critics say Columbia’s leadership is bowing to right-wing political pressure. CUAD accuses the university’s trustees — including pro-Israel figures with ties to weapons manufacturers and financial firms — of colluding with the Trump administration to suppress dissent. Acting President Claire Shipman, a known AIPAC speaker, has also faced criticism for her alleged involvement in backchannel communication with figures linked to Canary Mission and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
One student, Layla, condemned the institution: “Columbia is a glorified Israeli military base… This school is dangerous. They will ruin your life to please donors.”
Political analyst Mitchell Plitnick called the crackdown “complicity with fascism,” while journalist Nora Barrows-Friedman described Columbia as “a pro-genocide, right-wing hedge fund masquerading as an educational institution.”
As Columbia continues to face mounting backlash from students, alumni, and civil rights organizations, CUAD and its supporters remain steadfast in their demands: end complicity in Israeli apartheid and protect students’ rights to protest.
