Columbia expels students for building takeover during protests

Columbia University has expelled or suspended several students involved in a building takeover during pro-Palestinian protests last spring. The university's judicial board issued sanctions based on the severity of the students' actions. The university also temporarily revoked diplomas of some graduates linked to the incident. The decision follows a lengthy investigation into the April 30, 2024, occupation of Hamilton Hall, which involved barricading the building. This development comes amid heightened tensions, including the recent arrest of a campus activist by federal authorities. Columbia has also lost over $400 million in federal funding due to claims of inadequate responses to campus antisemitism.