The University of Columbia He said he is punishing dozens of students who have made a pro-Palestinian demonstration in the campus main library.
After the protest, the university began an investigation into violations of the rules and released, on Tuesday, the suspension of students and prohibition of entry in the facilities of Columbia.
Sanctions include suspensions that range from one to three years, revocation of diplomas e expulsions.
“The disturbances of academic activities violate the policies and rules of the University, and such violations will necessarily have consequences,” the university said in the statement that announced the actions.
O Columbia For Palestine, Pro-Palestine Group of the University, detailed that 80 students were informed about their punishments the day before.
According to the group, the disciplinary action marked “the largest number of suspensions for a single political protest in the history of the campus of Columbia“And it exceeded the previous disciplinary actions announced against people by other protests.
United States President Donald Trump has been targeted since returning to the White House in January motivated by the pro-passage student protest movement that shook the campuses last year.
In March, the Trump government said it was penalizing the university for the way it dealt with last year’s pro-palestinian protests, canceling hundreds of millions of dollars in research scholarships.
The government claimed that the answer from Columbia and harassment of Jewish and Israeli members of the university community was insufficient.
Reforms in Columbia Administration
After the government announced funds cancellations, the educational institution announced a series of commitments in response to administration’s concerns.
“We support freedom of expression,” the university said in a statement at the time. “But demonstrations and other protest activities that occur within academic and place buildings where academic activities occur represent a direct impediment to maintaining our main academic mission.”
The government also tried to use the federal funding strategy with other educational institutions, including, because of campus protests. He also tried to deport some pro-Palestinian foreign students, but faced legal blocks.
Human rights advocates raised concerns about due process of law, academic freedom and freedom of expression in relation to government actions.
