Columbia Expels and Suspends Students Involved in Library Takeover

New York|Columbia Expels and Suspends Students Involved in Library Takeover

Columbia University has expelled and suspended students who were involved in a pro-Palestinian demonstration that shut down the main campus library in May, moving more quickly to hand down punishments than it has in the past, university officials announced on Tuesday.

The significant punishments, which were issued under a newly centralized disciplinary process, were an example of the tougher stance Columbia has vowed to take toward demonstrations that violate campus rules.

A statement from the university did not say how many students were disciplined, but a person with knowledge of the matter who spoke on the condition of anonymity said that just over 70 students had been punished. Of those, about 60 were suspended, with most suspensions to last for two years, the person said. A handful of students were expelled.

Fewer than 10 protesters received probation, a lighter punishment meted out to first-time offenders and to those who cooperated when security guards asked them to identify themselves. At least one demonstrator had their degree revoked, a severe punishment given only to repeat offenders.

The expulsions and suspensions come as Columbia continues to negotiate with the Trump administration for the return of more than $400 million in federal research funding. The government canceled the funding over accusations that Columbia violated students’ civil rights by not doing enough to rein in antisemitism on campus. A settlement under discussion is likely to involve a fine of potentially $200 million that Columbia would pay to resolve those claims, according to three people familiar with the negotiations.

The takeover of Butler Library on May 7 represented an effort by a pro-Palestinian student protest group, Columbia University Apartheid Divest, to regain momentum on campus after such protests had ebbed since last year. Dozens of masked students pushed past security guards at the busy library the week before finals and occupied a main room, renaming it for a Palestinian activist killed by Israeli forces in 2017.