Columbia University Expels 80 Students Over Pro-Palestinian Protests/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Columbia University has suspended or expelled nearly 80 students for participating in pro-Palestinian protests, including a library demonstration and an encampment. The disciplinary action follows pressure from the Trump administration, which withdrew $400 million in federal funding. Critics say the punishments are excessive and politically motivated.
Columbia Protest Crackdown – Quick Looks
- Columbia University has issued suspensions and expulsions for student protesters
- Nearly 80 students were sanctioned for demonstrations dating back to 2024
- Penalties include suspension (1–3 years), expulsion, probation, and degree revocations
- The university is negotiating with the Trump administration to restore $400M in federal funds
- Trump’s administration withdrew funding in March, citing failure to combat antisemitism
- Columbia has agreed to overhaul disciplinary procedures and redefine antisemitism
- Student activists say punishment exceeds past precedent for campus protests
- Suspended students must apologize to return—many refuse
- Columbia cut nearly 180 staff jobs in response to federal funding loss
- Graduate student Mahmoud Khalil is suing the Trump administration over protest-related detention
Deep Look
Columbia University Expels and Suspends Students Over Pro-Palestinian Protests Amid Federal Funding Fight
NEW YORK — Columbia University announced on Tuesday that it has taken disciplinary action — including suspensions, expulsions, and revocations of degrees — against dozens of students who participated in pro-Palestinian demonstrations, as the university faces ongoing pressure from the Trump administration and struggles to restore $400 million in federal funding.
A student activist group reported that nearly 80 students received formal sanctions for their roles in two separate protest actions: a sit-in inside Columbia’s main library before final exams in May and an encampment during the 2024 alumni weekend, which drew national attention during a broader wave of student protests against the war in Gaza.
While Columbia’s public statement did not name the disciplined individuals, it confirmed that a judicial board had levied suspensions of one to three years, permanent expulsions, probation terms, and degree revocations. Some students were reportedly told they must submit written apologies to be considered for reinstatement — a condition many say they will not meet.
Tensions With Trump Administration Fuel Punishment
The crackdown comes as Columbia negotiates with President Donald Trump’s administration, which in March cut federal contracts and grants, accusing the Ivy League institution of failing to contain antisemitic activity amid a surge of pro-Palestinian protests following the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war in October 2023.
In response, Columbia has agreed to a number of federal demands, including revamping its student conduct policies and adopting a broader definition of antisemitism, aligning with standards supported by Trump’s Department of Education.
“Our institution must focus on delivering on its academic mission for our community,” Columbia said in a statement. “Disruptions to academic activities are in violation of University policies and will necessarily generate consequences.”
A Costly Fallout: Layoffs and Legal Challenges
As a result of the funding withdrawal, Columbia said in May it would lay off nearly 180 employees — around 20% of those supported by the now-defunct grants. The university has also scaled back research efforts and halted select academic programs while it appeals to federal agencies to restore funding.
Meanwhile, student activists denounced the university’s disciplinary decisions as politically driven and excessive, arguing they exceed precedent for past protest-related punishments.
“We will not be deterred,” read a statement from Columbia University Apartheid Divest, a coalition that organized several of the campus protests. “We are committed to the struggle for Palestinian liberation.”
A Campus at the Epicenter of a National Movement
Columbia has become a national flashpoint in the U.S. student protest movement, particularly during the spring 2024 wave of demonstrations. During that time, students established an encampment and briefly occupied a university building, prompting police intervention and arrests that inspired similar protests on campuses across the country.
Since returning to office, President Trump has used the federal government’s financial leverage to crack down on what he deems anti-Israel or antisemitic activism. Several elite universities, including Columbia, Harvard, and Stanford, have faced increased scrutiny, with Trump threatening or executing funding cuts in response to their handling of campus protests.
Legal Fallout: Graduate Student Sues Federal Government
One Columbia graduate student, Mahmoud Khalil, was detained in March over his participation in a protest. Though he has no criminal record, he alleges that he was falsely imprisoned and maliciously prosecuted. Khalil is now suing the Trump administration, saying he was smeared as an antisemite for peacefully demonstrating on campus.
His case has become a symbol of the broader tensions between federal authorities and campus activists, as civil liberties groups warn that political pressure is infringing on student free speech rights.
What’s Next: Uncertainty and Backlash
The disciplinary actions come at a moment of deep division on campus. While some administrators and alumni have supported the university’s response as necessary to protect academic integrity and federal relationships, many students and faculty are voicing concern that Columbia has succumbed to political intimidation.
With protests likely to continue into the fall and legal battles brewing, Columbia’s leadership faces an ongoing challenge: balancing compliance with federal pressure while maintaining trust with its student body and faculty.
For now, student activists remain defiant.
“We’re not apologizing for protesting war and apartheid,” said one suspended student anonymously. “If Columbia wants to choose federal dollars over student voices, we’ll make that choice visible to the world.”
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