DayofPal– Columbia University has suspended 65 students for participating in a pro-Palestinian, anti-genocide demonstration held inside the university’s main library on Wednesday, according to The Wall Street Journal.
The disciplinary action underscores the escalating tension between academic institutions and federal authorities over student activism surrounding the war in Gaza.
A university official confirmed to the Journal that the suspended students are barred from taking final examinations and are denied access to campus facilities, with the exception of student housing.
Seniors among the group will also be prohibited from participating in graduation ceremonies.
In addition to the student suspensions, Columbia has issued campus bans against 33 other individuals, including students from external institutions and university alumni who took part in the demonstration.
The protest and its aftermath come as Columbia engages in delicate negotiations with the administration of President Donald Trump regarding federal funding and institutional autonomy.
The Trump administration has exerted increasing pressure on universities across the country, following a surge of student-led mobilizations in 2024 condemning Israel’s ongoing genocide in Gaza.
Nationwide, university students have intensified calls for boycotts of Israel, demanding divestment from companies linked to the Israeli military and denouncing what they describe as systematic human rights violations in Palestinian territories.
The crackdown at Columbia is seen by many as emblematic of a broader national response to campus dissent on the issue.
The disciplinary measures at Columbia reflect growing friction between academic freedom, student activism, and political oversight as the humanitarian crisis in Gaza remains at the center of global debate.
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