Columbia's Barnard College is first to expel students over Gaza war

Barnard College of Columbia University expelled two students last Friday for disrupting classroom order and engaging in political protests. As an integral part of Columbia University, Barnard College believes the students' actions constituted a severe violation of school regulations, thereby necessitating disciplinary action.

The incident originated on January 21, the first day of the spring semester, when the two, along with two other students, entered a course entitled "Modern Israeli History." They claimed this was to "offer a discursive alternative" because they felt the course "circumvents the question of Palestinian self-determination and whitewashes the ongoing genocide in Gaza." They also distributed flyers in the classroom, further disrupting the learning environment.

Barnard College Interim President Katrina Armstrong stated that these flyers contained "violent images unacceptable in our campus." Three days later, the two students faced temporary suspension and were banned from all campus facilities, including dormitories, libraries, health service centers, and dining halls. The Columbia University Apartheid Divest (Cuad) collective defense working group stated that all of this occurred without an investigation or hearing, raising concerns about due process.

According to Cuad, this expulsion marks the first time in 57 years that Columbia University has expelled students for political reasons, and the first formal expulsion related to the Gaza war. Cuad criticized the new review process leading to the expulsion, which is overseen by the Barnard College Student Success and Intervention office. They stated that Barnard College has so far suspended over 50 students and "evicted" 46 undergraduates, all for political protests, highlighting a pattern of suppression.

Cuad also stated that students were not allowed representation during the investigation process and were required to prove their innocence, rather than authorities providing evidence of their guilt. According to the group, the expulsion was carried out under the auspices of the Barnard Student Intervention and Success Office, a "new disciplinary body" that can issue "interim suspensions" without the investigation or hearing required for formal suspensions. Cuad claims this new office is being used "almost exclusively" to target students supporting Palestine, raising concerns about bias.

Barnard College President Laura Rosenbury issued a statement regarding the incident: "Under federal law, we cannot comment on students' academic and disciplinary records. That said, as a principle and policy, Barnard College will always act decisively to protect our community as a place where learning flourishes, individuals feel safe, and higher education is celebrated. This means upholding the highest standards and acting when those standards are threatened," emphasizing the college's commitment to a secure and productive academic environment.

"When rules are broken, when there is no remorse, no reflection, no willingness to change, we must act. Expulsion is always an extreme measure, but so is our commitment to respect, inclusion, and the integrity of the academic experience." Columbia University also issued a statement, confirming that one participant in the protest was a Columbia University student and that the Columbia University student was identified, suspended, and banned from campus within 48 hours, pending disciplinary action, demonstrating a swift response to the incident.

Columbia University stated in its statement: "We condemn this unacceptable disruption of our academic mission. Disrupting our classrooms and attempting to intimidate or harass our students is unacceptable, an affront to our University community, and we will not tolerate it," underscoring the university's stance against actions that undermine its core values and educational goals.

Cuad will launch a series of actions this week demanding the students' reinstatement, including a letter-writing campaign, and stated that there are double standards regarding protests supporting Palestine. "Barnard College has been violating disciplinary norms to target students supporting Palestine," Cuad said in a statement, suggesting a pattern of discriminatory enforcement of regulations.

It is reported that in 1968, Mark Rudd, president of Students for a Democratic Society, was expelled for leading a massive student sit-in protesting the Vietnam War and the segregation of Columbia University's gymnasium, drawing parallels to past instances of student activism and disciplinary actions.