Columbia University Expels and Suspends Students Over Hamilton Hall Takeover

Columbia University has formally expelled and suspended multiple students who participated in the takeover of Hamilton Hall, a key academic and administrative building, during a pro-Palestinian protest that intensified tensions on campus and drew national attention. The university administration announced the disciplinary measures following a series of investigations into the April occupation, stating that the students violated university policies by forcefully entering and occupying the building, disrupting university operations, and refusing to comply with multiple directives to vacate the premises. The actions were taken after several warnings were issued by university officials and law enforcement, including the New York Police Department, who were ultimately called in to dismantle the encampments and restore order.

The Hamilton Hall occupation marked a flashpoint in a broader wave of pro-Palestinian demonstrations across American college campuses in response to the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Protesters, comprised mostly of students, faculty allies, and outside activists, called for the university to divest from companies linked to Israel and to publicly condemn what they described as the ongoing occupation and humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian territories. Demonstrators entered Hamilton Hall in the early hours of the morning and barricaded themselves inside, displaying banners and issuing demands to university leadership.

The protest brought back memories of Columbia's historic 1968 protests, when students similarly occupied buildings to protest the Vietnam War and university expansion policies. Unlike those earlier demonstrations, however, the 2024 protest was marked by a swift and firm administrative response, reflecting what university officials described as an urgent need to maintain order, ensure safety, and protect institutional integrity. According to a university spokesperson, the decision to expel or suspend students was not made lightly.

Officials reviewed video evidence, eyewitness testimony, and internal reports before issuing sanctions. Those expelled have been permanently removed from the university and will not be eligible to re-enroll. Others received temporary suspensions ranging from one to three semesters, depending on the severity of their actions and prior conduct records.

The administration emphasized that due process was observed throughout the disciplinary proceedings, including opportunities for students to respond to allegations and present evidence on their behalf. In a written statement, Columbia University President Minouche Shafik defended the university's actions as necessary to uphold its core mission and values. “While we respect and protect the right to peaceful protest, the unauthorized occupation of university buildings is a clear violation of our community standards,” Shafik said.

“We must ensure that all students, faculty, and staff feel safe on campus and that our academic operations can proceed without unlawful disruption.” Shafik’s administration has faced criticism from both sides of the debate—those who believe the university acted too harshly against student protesters, and others who argue that the administration was too slow to intervene and allowed the situation to escalate unnecessarily. Critics of the expulsions, including faculty members and civil liberties organizations, argue that the university has sent a chilling message to students who seek to engage in activism and challenge institutional power. Several professors issued an open letter denouncing what they called “a draconian crackdown on peaceful dissent,” asserting that student activism has long been a part of Columbia’s legacy and should be protected rather than punished.

In response, university officials have reiterated that while peaceful demonstrations are welcome and protected under university policy, unlawful actions that endanger safety or violate property rights will not be tolerated. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) also weighed in on the controversy, raising concerns about the proportionality of the disciplinary measures and the broader trend of universities policing student activism. Meanwhile, some students and faculty who opposed the takeover have expressed relief that the university acted decisively.

They cited disruptions to classes, blocked access to campus resources, and concerns about escalating confrontations as reasons for supporting the disciplinary measures. “There’s a line between protest and coercion,” said one faculty member who requested anonymity. “We should support student expression, but we also have to ensure that no one feels threatened or silenced in the process.” The expelled and suspended students, many of whom were active in Columbia’s chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP), have vowed to continue their activism off-campus and are considering legal action to challenge the university’s decision.

In a press conference held by their legal counsel, students said they were targeted unfairly for their political beliefs and that the university had failed to engage in meaningful dialogue about their concerns. “We acted out of conscience,” said one expelled student. “We are being punished not because we broke rules, but because we made powerful people uncomfortable.

This is about suppressing solidarity and ignoring the calls for justice in Palestine.” The controversy has also prompted wider discussion about how universities handle political dissent and the boundaries of acceptable protest. Columbia’s actions are being closely watched by other institutions grappling with similar student-led movements demanding transparency, accountability, and ethical investment. In recent months, student protests over the Israel-Palestine conflict have erupted on campuses nationwide, including Harvard, NYU, UC Berkeley, and the University of Michigan.

Many of these protests have raised questions about free speech, antisemitism, Islamophobia, and the increasingly polarized climate in higher education. In Columbia’s case, the administration has pledged to launch a campus-wide dialogue on civil discourse, academic freedom, and the limits of protest. A task force composed of students, faculty, and administrators is being assembled to recommend updated policies and educational programming.

University officials have stated that they recognize the deep passions involved and are committed to ensuring that all voices can be heard in a respectful and lawful manner. The Hamilton Hall incident has become a symbolic flashpoint in a broader cultural and political struggle playing out in educational institutions, as students push back against what they view as institutional complicity in global injustices. The university, in turn, faces the difficult task of balancing its commitment to intellectual inquiry and expression with its duty to maintain a safe and functional learning environment.

As the legal and public relations fallout continues, Columbia’s handling of the protest and its disciplinary response will likely serve as a precedent for how other universities address high-stakes activism in the years ahead. For now, the campus remains tense, with protests and counter-protests continuing to surface. Security has been increased, and several upcoming graduation events are being restructured to account for potential disruptions.

The students at the center of the controversy say they remain undeterred and insist that their cause is larger than any one protest or punishment. “They can expel students, but they can’t expel the truth,” read a banner unfurled during a recent demonstration near the main quad. As Columbia moves forward, it must now grapple with the challenge of rebuilding trust among a fractured student body, addressing deep ideological divides, and reaffirming its role as a space where difficult conversations can unfold without fear or retribution.

The university’s response to this protest will be remembered not just as a matter of student conduct policy, but as a statement on its values and its willingness to engage with the most urgent and contentious issues of our time..