Columbia University — embroiled in crisis after the Trump administration revoked $400 million in grants and contracts for the school’s “inaction in the face of persistent harassment of Jewish students” — announced on Thursday a range of disciplinary actions against students who occupied a campus building last spring, including expulsions and suspensions.
The punishments levied include “multiyear suspensions, temporary degree revocations and expulsions,” according to a statement. The school did not release the names of students who would be punished, in compliance with federal privacy laws, according university to a spokeswoman. It is unclear how many students have been punished.
The announcement came one day after Gregory J. Wawro, a professor of political science who also serves as the university’s rules administrator, said in a statement that the hearings for students accused of violations “in connection with the April 17-18 encampment on the South Lawn and the occupation of Hamilton Hall” had been completed.
Student defendants were allowed to bring two advisers, including legal counsel, to hearings, which were held over video conference, according to a Columbia employee with knowledge of the process who spoke on the condition of anonymity because she was not authorized to speak publicly.
In February, the House Committee on Education and Workforce sent a letter to Columbia’s interim president, Katrina Armstrong, and Columbia’s board chairs, David Greenwald and Claire Shipman, listing “numerous antisemitic incidents” that it said had taken place in the last two academic years.
They included the student occupation of Hamilton Hall last April, the protest against a class taught by former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and the disruption of an Israeli history class.
This is a developing story and will be updated.