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Columbia University Changes Graduation Plans Amid Protests on Campus

Published: 06 May 2024 at 14:25

Politics

After protests on campus, Columbia University has decided to cancel its main graduation ceremony and focus on smaller, school-specific celebrations from May 10-16. The decision comes after protesters camped on the South Lawn calling for various demands. The ceremonies will now be held at the Baker Athletics Complex, with Columbia College's ceremony on May 14 and Barnard College the following day.

DEEP DIVE


Colleges Increase Security for Graduation Ceremonies Amid Protests


Colleges and universities are boosting security measures for graduation ceremonies amid disruptive protests, particularly focusing on maintaining a balance between free speech rights and a peaceful atmosphere for celebrating students and families. Columbia University is considering canceling its main commencement ceremony due to security concerns following pro-Palestinian protests. Some students and faculty have expressed concerns about the planned commencement speaker and the potential cancellation of the event. Similar security and protest-related issues have been seen at the University of Southern California, which canceled its main commencement ceremony but will proceed with individual school ceremonies.

1968 Columbia University protests (Wikipedia)


In 1968, a series of protests at Columbia University in New York City were one among the various student demonstrations that occurred around the globe in that year. The Columbia protests erupted over the spring of that year after students discovered links between the university and the institutional apparatus supporting the United States' involvement in the Vietnam War, as well as their concern over an allegedly segregated gymnasium to be constructed in the nearby Morningside Park. The protests resulted in the student occupation of many university buildings and the eventual violent removal of protesters by the New York City Police Department.

Columbia University Students Speak Out Against Police Brutality and Administrative Neglect


Columbia University students condemn the brutal treatment by riot police on campus, blaming senior administration for neglecting student voices and creating a distorted narrative. The administration's actions led to a crisis that culminated in the NYPD raid in April, stemming from a contentious university event policy implemented in October. Students demand to be heard and highlight a pattern of executive overreach by the senior administration.

Columbia Law Students Cowardly Demand Exams Be Canceled


Columbia University law students are attempting to make sure a good crisis doesn't go to waste. The Ivy League school has been embroiled in controversy after an anti-Israel mob gained control of large chunks of campus and seized a university building. Police were called in earlier in the week to regain control of the building and arrest those who refused to leave. It's been a situation that is utterly embarrassing for the school, and it's somehow getting worse. The Columbia Law Review admin board of student editors released a letter demanding exams be canceled in the aftermath of police clearing people out.

Universities Crack Down on Pro-Palestinian Student Protests


Pro-Palestinian student protests have surged at universities, leading to suspensions, expulsions, and arrests, with comparisons drawn to past movements like the anti-apartheid protests in South Africa and the Vietnam War era. Columbia University witnessed a diverse and peaceful protest outside its campus, focusing on demands such as divestment from companies profiting from Israeli apartheid. The atmosphere was tense, with police presence and media coverage intensifying the situation.

Columbia College Chicago (Wikipedia)


Columbia College Chicago is a private art college in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Founded in 1890, it has 6,493 students (as of fall 2021) pursuing degrees in more than 60 undergraduate and graduate degree programs. It is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.Columbia College Chicago is the host institution of several affiliated educational, cultural, and research organizations, including the Center for Black Music Research, the Center for Book and Paper Arts, the Center for Community Arts Partnerships, the Dance Center of Columbia College Chicago, and the Museum of Contemporary Photography.Columbia College Chicago is not affiliated with Columbia University, Columbia College Hollywood, or any other Columbia College in the United States. However, Columbia College Hollywood was originally founded as a branch campus of Columbia College Chicago from 1952-1957.

Columbia University (disambiguation) (Wikipedia)


Columbia University is the historical and colloquial name of Columbia University in the City of New York.Columbia University may also refer to:Columbia College, the oldest undergraduate school of Columbia UniversityThe University of Portland, formerly known as Columbia University

Pro-Palestine protests at Columbia University campus


Pro-Palestine protests and encampment at Columbia University campus inspired similar campaigns in schools across the United States and globally. The movement took over a university building but lost its encampment within 24 hours. Student journalists covered the event with matching paper badges and blue tape, alongside faculty members. Protesters regrouped and dispersed from the encampment, with some entering Hamilton Hall on campus.

2024 Columbia University pro-Palestinian campus occupation (Wikipedia)


An ongoing occupation protest conducted by pro-Palestinian students is occurring at Columbia University in New York City. The protests began on April 17, 2024, when pro-Palestinian students established an encampment of approximately 50 tents, calling it the Gaza Solidarity Encampment, on the university's campus, demanding the university divest from Israel. The encampment was forcibly dismantled the next day when university president Minouche Shafik authorized the New York City Police Department to storm campus and conduct mass arrests, but it has since been restored. The arrests marked the first time the university has allowed police to suppress campus protests since the 1968 demonstrations against the Vietnam War.The campus occupation has been organized by Columbia University Apartheid Divest (CUAD), a student-led coalition of over 120 groups, together with Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) and Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP), which have often participated in New York City's pro-Palestinian demonstrations since the start of the ongoing Israel–Hamas war in October 2023. Another local group, Within Our Lifetime (WOL), has been protesting outside the campus perimeter in support of the encampment, clashing with the NYPD. Much smaller groups of pro-Israel counterprotesters have also been present outside the university.As a result of the protests, Columbia University switched to blended learning (incorporating more online learning) for the rest of the semester. The protests encouraged other actions at multiple universities.

Columbia College (Missouri) (Wikipedia)


Columbia College, also known as Columbia College of Missouri, is a private college based in Columbia, Missouri. Founded in 1851 as a nonsectarian college, it has retained a covenant with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) since its inception. In addition to its main campus, the college operates 34 "extended campuses" in 13 U.S. states and one in Cuba, with 18 of them on U.S. military bases. One third of Columbia's almost 10,000 students are associated with the U.S. military.

Columbia College, Columbia University (Wikipedia)


Columbia College is the oldest undergraduate college of Columbia University, a private Ivy League research university in New York City. Situated on the university's main campus in Morningside Heights in the borough of Manhattan, it was founded by the Church of England in 1754 as King's College by royal charter of King George II of Great Britain. It is Columbia University's traditional undergraduate program, offering BA degrees, and is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York and the fifth oldest in the United States.Columbia College is distinctive for its comprehensive Core Curriculum and is among the most selective of American colleges, with an admission rate of 3.85% in 2024.

Barnard College (Wikipedia)


Barnard College, officially titled as Barnard College, Columbia University, is a private women's liberal arts college in the borough of Manhattan in New York City. It was founded in 1889 by a group of women led by young student activist Annie Nathan Meyer, who petitioned Columbia University's trustees to create an affiliated college named after Columbia's then-recently deceased 10th president, Frederick A.P. Barnard. The college is one of the original Seven Sisters—seven liberal arts colleges in the Northeastern United States that were historically women's colleges.Barnard is currently one of four Columbia undergraduate colleges with independent admission, curriculum, and financials. Students share classes, libraries, clubs, sororities, athletic fields, and dining halls with Columbia as well as sports teams. This is through the Columbia-Barnard Athletic Consortium, an agreement that makes Barnard the only women's college to offer its students the ability to compete in NCAA Division I athletics. Students receive a diploma from Columbia University.Barnard offers Bachelor of Arts degree programs in about 50 areas of study. Students may also pursue elements of their education at Columbia, the Juilliard School, the Manhattan School of Music, and The Jewish Theological Seminary which are also based in New York City. Its 4-acre (1.6 ha) campus is located in the Upper Manhattan neighborhood of Morningside Heights, stretching along Broadway between 116th and 120th Streets. It is directly across from Columbia's main campus.Barnard College alumnae include leaders in science, religion, politics, the Peace Corps, medicine, law, education, communications, theater, and business. Barnard graduates have been recipients of Emmy, Tony, Grammy, Academy, and Peabody Awards, Guggenheim Fellowships, MacArthur Fellowships, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the National Medal of Science, and the Pulitzer Prize.

Columbia University (Wikipedia)


Columbia University, officially Columbia University in the City of New York, is a private Ivy League research university in New York City, United States. Established in 1754 as King's College on the grounds of Trinity Church in Manhattan, it is the oldest institution of higher education in New York and the fifth-oldest in the United States.Columbia was established as a colonial college by royal charter under George II of Great Britain. It was renamed Columbia College in 1784 following the American Revolution, and in 1787 was placed under a private board of trustees headed by former students Alexander Hamilton and John Jay. In 1896, the campus was moved to its current location in Morningside Heights and renamed Columbia University.Columbia is organized into twenty schools, including four undergraduate schools and 16 graduate schools. The university's research efforts include the Lamont–Doherty Earth Observatory, the Goddard Institute for Space Studies, and accelerator laboratories with Big Tech firms such as Amazon and IBM. Columbia is a founding member of the Association of American Universities and was the first school in the United States to grant the MD degree. The university also administers and annually awards the Pulitzer Prize.Columbia scientists and scholars have played a pivotal role in scientific breakthroughs including brain-computer interface; the laser and maser; nuclear magnetic resonance; the first nuclear pile; the first nuclear fission reaction in the Americas; the first evidence for plate tectonics and continental drift; and much of the initial research and planning for the Manhattan Project during World War II.As of December 2021, its alumni, faculty, and staff have included seven of the Founding Fathers of the United States of America; four U.S. presidents; 34 foreign heads of state or government; two secretaries-general of the United Nations; ten justices of the United States Supreme Court; 103 Nobel laureates; 125 National Academy of Sciences members; 53 living billionaires; 23 Olympic medalists; 33 Academy Award winners; and 125 Pulitzer Prize recipients.

Columbia University President Faces Criticism Over Handling of Anti-Israel Protests


Columbia University's president, Nemat Minouche Shafik, faced criticism for her response to anti-Israel radicals on campus, leading to calls for her resignation. Faculty groups accused the police of excessive force when clearing out agitators from an academic building. The university has been criticized for allowing campuses to become radicalized and racialized over the years. Despite the pressure, Shafik was not available for an interview.

Student opts for Brandeis University over Barnard College due to campus tensions related to Israel-Gaza conflict


An 18-year-old high school senior from New York City switched her enrollment choice from Barnard College to Brandeis University due to tensions over the Israel-Gaza conflict at US campuses Brandeis University received an A grade for its response to antisemitic incidents, making the student feel happy and safe The decision was a family choice based on the university's administration response and Jewish community presence on campus Other families are also reconsidering college choices as campus protests continue nationwide

Comparing the 1968 Columbia University protest to recent events


Pro-Palestinian students took over Columbia University's South Lawn last week, drawing comparisons to the 1968 protest that saw police intervention. In 1968, students protested against the Vietnam War, changes to the military draft, Columbia's ties to defense research, and plans to take over part of a public park in Harlem. The recent protests centered around calling for an end to the Israel-Hamas conflict.

Barnard College Offers Way for Suspended Students to Return After Protest


Barnard College has offered suspended students a chance to end their interim suspensions if they agree to follow all rules during a probationary period following a 30-hour encampment protest in support of Gaza, which led to more than 100 arrests. The students can avoid having the incident on their transcripts if they comply with the terms. Jewish students at various U.S. colleges, including Columbia University and the University of Michigan, organized interfaith Passover Seders at Gaza solidarity encampments. Additionally, a 24-year-old New Jersey man faces federal hate crime charges for breaking into an Islamic center at Rutgers University.

List of Columbia University people (Wikipedia)


This is a partially sorted list of notable persons who have had ties to Columbia University. For further listing of notable Columbians see: Notable alumni at Columbia College of Columbia University; Columbia University School of General Studies; Columbia Law School; Columbia Business School; Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism; Columbia Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation; Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons; Columbia University Graduate School of Education (Teachers College); Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science; Columbia Graduate School of Arts and Sciences; Columbia University School of Professional Studies; Columbia University School of the Arts; the School of International and Public Affairs; and Barnard College. The following lists are incomplete.

New York Mayor Eric Adams Defends Police Response to Anti-Israel Protests at Colleges


Mayor Eric Adams supported New York City colleges proceeding with graduation ceremonies despite potential disruptions, defended police actions during anti-Israel protests at Columbia University and CUNY's City College, emphasised the need for permission and imminent threats before police intervention, and addressed criticism from Rep. Jamaal Bowman about the use of police on campus. Adams highlighted the presence of outside agitators in escalating tensions and vandalism, asserting the importance of keeping campuses safe and peaceful.

"Saturday Night Live" mocks anti-Israel student protests at Columbia University


In a cold open sketch on "Saturday Night Live," Kenan Thompson plays a father of a Columbia University student who sarcastically praises student activism but criticizes his daughter for participating in anti-Israel protests instead of attending class. He mocks the high tuition fees at Columbia and expresses frustration at his daughter majoring in African-American studies. Despite his concerns, he vows to ensure she graduates, even if he has to organize the ceremony himself.

Rep. Ilhan Omar's Daughter Suspended from Barnard College After Anti-Israel Protest


Isra Hirsi, daughter of U.S. Rep Ilhan Omar, was suspended from Barnard College for participating in anti-Israel protests at Columbia University, resulting in her eviction from campus housing, meal plan restrictions, and uncertainty about her future accommodations following her involvement in protests where she was arrested and issued a summons for trespassing. She expressed concerns about sleeping arrangements and access to basic needs after the suspension, feeling neglected by campus administration during the ordeal.

Arrested outsider accused of influencing Columbia University protests


James Carlson, a 40-year-old animal rights lawyer not affiliated with Columbia University, was arrested for setting fire to an Israeli flag near campus and then arrested inside Hamilton Hall during the protests Experts note that large protests attract individuals with varying ideologies, with roughly 30% of those arrested having no affiliation with the school. The influence of outsiders like Carlson on the student protest movement remains unclear, with some protesters disputing the narrative of dangerous outsiders and justifying violence. Meanwhile, a Columbia senior, Rory Wilson, took action to prevent protesters from barricading a door at Hamilton Hall.

Columbia University Press (Wikipedia)


Columbia University Press is a university press based in New York City, and affiliated with Columbia University. Founded in 1893, it is currently directed by Jennifer Crewe (2014–present) and publishes titles in the humanities and sciences, including the fields of literary and cultural studies, history, social work, sociology, religion, film, and international studies.

President of Columbia University (Wikipedia)


The president of Columbia University is the chief officer of Columbia University in New York City. The position was created in 1754 by the original royal charter for the university, issued by George II, and the power to appoint the president was given to an autonomous board of trustees. The university suspended operations upon the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War, during which no individual served as president. When it was resuscitated by the New York State Legislature, the university was placed directly under the control of the Board of Regents of the University of the State of New York; its chancellor, George Clinton, served as the de facto president of Columbia University. Through the efforts of Alexander Hamilton and John Jay, control of the university was returned to a private board of trustees in 1787, which has to this day maintained the right to appoint or remove the president, who also serves on the board ex officio. The university's first president was Samuel Johnson, who held the office from 1754 to 1763, and its 20th and current president is Minouche Shafik, whose tenure began on July 1, 2023.Upon the founding of the university, it was stipulated by the vestrymen of Trinity Church, on whose land King's College sat, that every president must be a member of the Church of England; otherwise, the land would revert to the church. As such, every single president of the university until the appointment of Dwight D. Eisenhower was Anglican, while the first six presidents, with the exception of William Samuel Johnson, were all either Anglican priests or bishops. Michael I. Sovern, appointed in 1980, was the university's first Jewish president. In 2023, Minouche Shafik became the first woman to serve as president of the university. From 1902 to 1970, every president was involved in foreign relations in some capacity: Nicholas Murray Butler was the president of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace from 1925 to 1945, and was awarded a Nobel Peace Prize for his promotion of the Kellogg–Briand Pact; Dwight D. Eisenhower served as Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force during World War II, and after his tenure would serve as President of the United States; and Grayson L. Kirk and Andrew W. Cordier were both instrumental to the formation of the United Nations.As established by Columbia University's governing statutes, it is the duty of the president to exercise jurisdiction over all affairs of the university; to call special meetings of the University Senate, faculties, and administration; to report to the Trustees of Columbia on the state and needs of the university annually; and to administer discipline. The consent of the president is necessary for any act made by a faculty or administrative board, unless their veto is overridden by two-thirds vote. Additionally, the president is able to grant leaves of absences, give faculty permission to use university laboratories for experiments, and confer academic and honorary degrees on behalf of the board of trustees.The president is ex officio a permanent member of the Pulitzer Prize Board, and has annually presented the awards to its recipients since 1984. In addition, the president is an ex officio member of the board of trustees of Barnard College.

Columbia University Changes Graduation Plans Amid Protests on Campus Columbia University Changes Graduation Plans Amid Protests on Campus Columbia University Changes Graduation Plans Amid Protests on Campus Columbia University Changes Graduation Plans Amid Protests on Campus Columbia University Changes Graduation Plans Amid Protests on Campus Columbia University Changes Graduation Plans Amid Protests on Campus

SOURCES

Business Insider

Columbia University just canceled its commencement

Business Insider

CBS News

Columbia University cancels main 2024 commencement ceremony, will host multiple ceremonies instead

CBS News

NY Post

Columbia cancels university-wide graduation ceremony after weeks of anti-Israel protests

NY Post

Washington Post

Columbia cancels school-wide graduation, moves ceremonies off campus

Washington Post

The Huffington Post

Columbia University Cancels Main Commencement Amid Pro-Palestinian Protests

The Huffington Post

Daily Mail

Columbia Law students say they're too traumatized to sit for exams

James Cirrone

NBC

Columbia cancels universitywide commencement ceremony after weeks of protests on campus

NBC

NPR

Columbia University cancels its main commencement ceremony after weeks of turmoil

NPR

PANORA

Colleges Increase Security for Graduation Ceremonies Amid Protests

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Wikipedia

1968 Columbia University protests

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Columbia Law Students Cowardly Demand Exams Be Canceled

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Universities Crack Down on Pro-Palestinian Student Protests

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Columbia College Chicago

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Columbia University (disambiguation)

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Pro-Palestine protests at Columbia University campus

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2024 Columbia University pro-Palestinian campus occupation

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Columbia College (Missouri)

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Columbia College, Columbia University

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Barnard College

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Columbia University

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Columbia University President Faces Criticism Over Handling of Anti-Israel Protests

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Student opts for Brandeis University over Barnard College due to campus tensions related to Israel-Gaza conflict

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Comparing the 1968 Columbia University protest to recent events

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Barnard College Offers Way for Suspended Students to Return After Protest

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List of Columbia University people

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New York Mayor Eric Adams Defends Police Response to Anti-Israel Protests at Colleges

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\"Saturday Night Live\" mocks anti-Israel student protests at Columbia University

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Rep. Ilhan Omar's Daughter Suspended from Barnard College After Anti-Israel Protest

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Arrested outsider accused of influencing Columbia University protests

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Columbia University Press

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