Columbia University has issued a warning of expulsion to students occupying the Hamilton Hall administrative building, citing an escalation of the situation by demonstrators protesting against genocide in Gaza.
In response to this, Columbia University spokesperson Ben Chang stated that students occupying the building could face expulsion.
The protesters, who have renamed the building “Hind’s Hall” in memory of a Palestinian child killed in Gaza, are demanding that Columbia divest from Israeli firms and denounce Israel’s actions in Gaza. However, Columbia President Minouche Shafik has reiterated that the university will not divest, which is a key demand of the protesting students.
The standoff has resulted in several campus buildings being locked down on Tuesday, with no immediate resolution in sight.
The Columbia Students for Justice in Palestine group released a statement expressing urgency due to Israel’s actions in Gaza, criticizing the university’s financial ties to what they view as harmful Israeli policies.
Protesters who did not comply with a Monday deadline set by the university to evacuate an encampment site face suspension and restrictions from academic and recreational spaces, according to Chang.
Chang emphasised that the university’s actions are in response to the protesters’ behaviour and disruptions, rather than their cause. He cited concerns about creating a threatening environment for Jewish students and faculty, as well as the disruption to academic activities.
The decision by President Shafik to involve police in dismantling an initial encampment and arresting demonstrators on April 18 sparked broader protests across universities, despite subsequent arrests and threats from administrators.
These protests have led to hundreds of arrests nationwide, as students demand that universities divest from Israel and condemn its actions in Gaza, where significant casualties and destruction have been reported, particularly impacting women, children, journalists, academics, and activists.
