Columbia University Expels Students Participating in 2024 Hamilton Hall Takeover
The sanctions were announced shortly after U.S. immigration agents detained a former graduate student from Columbia University who had spearheaded pro-Palestinian demonstrations last year.
On March 13, Columbia University reported that it had expelled or suspended several students involved in the occupation of Hamilton Hall during pro-Palestinian protests last year and had temporarily revoked degrees from other graduates.
In a message sent to the entire campus, the university disclosed that its judicial board imposed a variety of sanctions against the students who occupied the building while protesting the Israel-Hamas conflict.
“Columbia is dedicated to upholding the University’s Rules and Policies and enhancing our disciplinary processes,” the statement asserted.
The university has not disclosed the number of students who faced expulsion, suspension, or degree revocation, indicating that these administrative responses were based on an “evaluation of the severity of behaviors.”
On March 7, the Trump administration announced that it would withdraw $400 million in grants and contracts from Columbia University, citing the institution’s failure to address anti-Semitism on its campus.
Related Stories
Recently, Columbia initiated an investigation into students involved in pro-Palestinian protests from the previous year due to potential funding losses from the federal government.
Tricia McLaughlin, a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security, stated that Khalil “facilitated activities linked to Hamas,” the organization that instigated the conflict in Gaza with its massive offensive on southern Israel on October 7, 2023.
“We are aware that additional students at Columbia and other universities nationwide have participated in pro-terrorist, anti-Semitic, and anti-American activities, and the Trump Administration will not accept this behavior,” Trump stated.
He further mentioned that “many are not genuine students, but rather paid agitators. We will locate, arrest, and deport these sympathizers of terrorism from the country—never to return.”
The president also mentioned that he anticipates “every one” of America’s higher education institutions to comply.
Aldgra Fredly, Tom Ozimek, Bill Pan, and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
