New York, NY – Columbia University has announced significant disciplinary actions against more than 70 students involved in the May 7, 2025, takeover of Butler Library. The penalties include multi-year suspensions, expulsions, and degree revocations, marking the most extensive disciplinary measures for a single political protest in the university's history. As stated in a tweet by Harmeet K. Dhillon, "Columbia finally punishes anti-Israel rioters over violent library takeover, slaps students with multi-year suspensions, expulsions."
The incident saw dozens of masked pro-Palestinian students force their way into the library during finals week, disrupting studies and chanting slogans. Protesters renamed the space the "Basel Al-Araj Popular University" and caused property damage, including graffiti. Reports indicate that two university public safety officers sustained injuries during a crowd surge as individuals attempted to force their way further into the building.
Of the over 70 students disciplined, roughly two-thirds have received suspensions ranging from one to three years, with many facing two-year suspensions. The university's actions also include expulsions and the revocation of degrees for some participants. This swift disciplinary process, concluding approximately 10 weeks after the event, is notably faster than previous university responses to campus protests.
Acting Columbia President Claire Shipman had previously condemned the takeover as "utterly unacceptable," emphasizing that such disruptions would not be tolerated and that individuals violating university rules would face consequences. The university asserted these measures were necessary to uphold its academic mission and ensure campus safety. The disciplinary actions follow intense scrutiny and pressure, including the Trump administration's decision to penalize the university by canceling hundreds of millions in federal research grants due to its handling of alleged antisemitism on campus.
The crackdown on the Butler Library protesters is part of Columbia's broader effort to address campus unrest, which included earlier anti-Israel encampments in spring 2024. Jewish students and faculty have voiced support for the university's firm response, with Brian Cohen, head of Columbia’s Kraft Center for Jewish Student Life, commending the university's "strong words and action." The university has also stated it will no longer engage with the pro-Palestinian group Columbia University Apartheid Divest.