Students involved in seizing Columbia University’s Hamilton Hall in the spring of 2024 have been suspended, expelled, and had their degrees temporarily revoked.
The university announced the punishments on Thursday but did not reveal their identities or how many students were punished.
“Today, the Columbia University Judicial Board determined findings and issued sanctions to students ranging from multi-year suspensions, temporary degree revocations, and expulsions related to the occupation of Hamilton Hall last spring,” the Ivy League school said. “With respect to other events taking place last spring, the UJB’s determinations recognized previously imposed disciplinary action. The return of suspended students will be overseen by Columbia’s University Life Office. Columbia is committed to enforcing the University’s Rules and Policies and improving our disciplinary processes.”
Columbia students took over Hamilton Hall in an escalation of violent protests that began on college campuses across the country following the October 7, 2023, massacre of Israeli citizens by members of the terrorist group Hamas. One of the leaders of the anti-Israel protests at Columbia was Mahmoud Khalil, who is currently in the process of being deported by the Trump administration, The Daily Wire reported.
Many Democrats supported and even encouraged the anti-Israel protests, which saw students harass and attack Jewish students, vandalize school buildings, and post signs with anti-Semitic slogans. At one point during the students’ occupation of Hamilton Hall, a janitor was allegedly “held hostage” by a group of students, including one who was the heir to millions in advertising money, the Daily Mail reported.
Mario Torres, a father of two, told The Free Press he was too scared to return to campus after the incident.
“It all comes down to the school, it’s not really public safety’s fault even though I felt abandoned by them,” Torres told the outlet.
“We don’t expect to go to work and get swarmed by an angry mob with rope and duct tape and masks and gloves,” Torres added.
After taking office, the Trump administration investigated Columbia’s handling of the protests and announced earlier this month that it would cancel around $400 million in federal grants to the school for its “continued inaction in the face of persistent harassment of Jewish students.”
“Since October 7, Jewish students have faced relentless violence, intimidation, and anti-Semitic harassment on their campuses — only to be ignored by those who are supposed to protect them,” Education Secretary Linda McMahon said in a statement.
The school immediately began taking action to restore the funding.