Columbia University has handed down severe disciplinary measures to students involved in last spring’s takeover of Hamilton Hall during pro-Palestinian protests, expelling some, suspending others for years, and temporarily revoking degrees.
The university’s Judicial Board announced the penalties on Thursday but did not disclose how many students were affected.
“These outcomes are the result of thorough and rigorous processes laid out in the Rules of University Conduct,” the university stated, adding that the decisions were based on the severity of the students’ actions and any prior disciplinary history.
The April occupation and NYPD raid
The protest, part of a nationwide campus movement tied to the Israel-Hamas war, escalated in April when demonstrators seized Hamilton Hall, barricading themselves inside. According to university officials, at least one person hid inside the building before letting others in. Columbia later told the NYPD that the demonstrators, some allegedly unaffiliated with the school, vandalized university property and trespassed.
Two security guards inside the building were “secured and released,” the university noted. As the situation intensified, Columbia authorized the NYPD to storm the building, leading to multiple arrests.
Legal and institutional fallout
In June, the Manhattan district attorney dismissed charges against most arrested protesters, citing “extremely limited” surveillance footage—as demonstrators had covered cameras inside Hamilton Hall. However, prosecutors moved forward with cases against individuals accused of assaulting police officers at both Columbia and City College.
Beyond the disciplinary and legal consequences, the protests triggered a leadership shake-up. Columbia President Minouche Shafik resigned in August 2024 amid backlash over the university’s response.
A controversial arrest
The university’s disciplinary actions come just days after Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil, a leader in Columbia’s encampment protests, was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)—despite holding a green card.
His arrest ignited a new firestorm. President Donald Trump claimed Khalil was a Hamas supporter, promising that his detention would be “the first of many to come.” Khalil’s attorney fired back, calling the claim “false and preposterous.”
With protests, arrests, and political pressure mounting, Columbia finds itself at the center of an unfolding battle over free speech, campus activism, and national security.
