Campus demonstrators face disciplinary actions from Columbia University, aiming to reclaim federal funds amidst the ongoing student protests
Columbia University has taken decisive action against more than 70 students involved in two pro-Palestinian protests, held at Butler Library in May 2025 and during Alumni Weekend the previous spring. The disciplinary measures, determined by the University Judicial Board (UJB), include degree revocations, multi-year suspensions, and expulsions.
The UJB, which operates under the Provost’s Office and comprises professors and administrators, reviewed each case and previous disciplinary outcomes before issuing sanctions. The university justified these actions by citing violations of university policies and rules, emphasising that disruptions to academic activities warrant consequences.
This disciplinary move comes as Columbia faces a standoff with the Trump administration, which has accused the university of failing to address persistent harassment of Jewish students. Since March 2025, the Trump administration has withheld $400 million in federal funding from Columbia. The university's disciplinary actions are part of efforts to negotiate a deal with the administration to restore this funding.
The Trump administration has applauded Columbia's decision to discipline students who participated in the demonstrations. However, the New York chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NY) has criticised the suspensions as "grotesquely oppressive."
The university's stance has been compared to that of Harvard, which has taken a less confrontational approach in its bid to regain access to millions in federal funding the administration stripped earlier this year. Columbia University, one of the elite schools facing pressure from the Trump administration to act against antisemitism, has stated that it must focus on its academic mission and respect for the institution's fundamental work, policies, and rules.
Earlier this month, it was reported that Columbia was on the verge of striking an agreement with the Trump administration to restore federal funding to the school following months of negotiations. The deal, if confirmed, would require the university to pay a settlement and implement changes to address the administration's concerns.
The White House met with Columbia representatives last week, and CNN's Alayna Treene and Betsy Klein contributed to this report. The university's actions have sparked debate about academic freedom and the role of the federal government on college campuses, with some critics accusing Columbia of selling its morality, academic integrity, and commitment to students. However, the university maintains that it must uphold its rules and policies to maintain a safe and productive learning environment for all students.
The university's decision to impose disciplinary actions on students involved in pro-Palestinian protests, as a part of efforts to negotiate a deal with the Trump administration, has not only attracted praise from the administration but also criticism from organizations such as CAIR-NY. This issue has led to a broader debate about academic freedom, the role of the federal government on college campuses, and the university's commitment to students and its own institutional rules and policies. Meanwhile, Columbia University, in its pursuit of restoring federal funding, emphasizes the need to focus on education-and-self-development, general-news, crime-and-justice, and politics, while ensuring a safe and productive learning environment for all students, us included.
