Columbia University punishes pro-Palestinian student protesters

Columbia University has announced punishments for students involved in a campus occupation during pro-Palestinian protests last spring. Sanctions include multi-year suspensions, temporary degree revocations, and expulsions. This decision follows the Trump administration's cancellation of $400 million in federal grants, citing the university's inadequate response to antisemitism. Columbia's interim president acknowledged the administration's concerns. Protests at Columbia intensified after the October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel. The university has become a central site for anti-Israel demonstrations, with calls for divestment and an end to U.S. military aid to Israel.