Columbia University announced Thursday that it has imposed disciplinary actions on students involved in the occupation of a campus building during pro-Palestinian protests last spring.
The university’s decision follows the Trump administration’s recent move to revoke $400 million in federal grants and contracts, citing Columbia’s alleged failure to address antisemitism on campus.
Interim President Katrina Armstrong acknowledged the administration’s concerns as legitimate, stating that the university is working with the government to address them. The protests and counter-protests at Columbia have led to accusations of antisemitism, Islamophobia, and racism.
In a statement, the university said its judicial board—comprised of students, faculty, and staff—reviewed the cases and issued sanctions ranging from multi-year suspensions to temporary degree revocations and expulsions related to the occupation of Hamilton Hall last spring.
Due to legal privacy restrictions, Columbia did not disclose the names of those disciplined or the exact number of students affected. However, the university confirmed that all punishments are subject to appeal.
The United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 2710, which represents Columbia student workers, issued a statement condemning the disciplinary actions. The union revealed that its president, Grant Miner, was among those expelled just one day before contract negotiations with the university were set to begin. The union called the move “the latest assault on First Amendment rights.”
A university spokesperson declined to comment on the union’s statement.
Columbia University became a focal point of anti-Israel demonstrations that spread across U.S. college campuses following Hamas’ attack on Israel in October 2023 and Israel’s subsequent military campaign in Gaza. Protesters demanded that Columbia divest from Israeli-linked investments and called for the U.S. to end military aid to Israel.
The Trump administration has vowed a crackdown on pro-Palestinian demonstrators, claiming some are linked to extremist ideologies.
Over the weekend, federal immigration authorities detained Columbia student Mahmoud Khalil, a prominent leader of last year’s campus protests. The administration is pursuing his deportation, though a federal judge has temporarily blocked the order.
