Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Palestinian media: Israeli vehicles fire at eastern Gaza City.
Al-Qassam Brigades: We will hand over the body of one of the occupation prisoners that was exhumed today in the Gaza Strip at 9 pm Gaza time.
Al Mayadeen correspondent to southern Lebanon: One martyr and one wounded in the initial toll of an Israeli drone strike targeting the town of Al-Bayyad.
Local sources report that a car bomb explosion has targeted the General Security headquarters near the Baniyas Court in the Tartous countryside, western Syria
Israeli artillery strikes target Khan Younis, the Gaza Strip.
Palestinian media: IOF arrest leader Jamal al-Tawil, who was liberated as part of the prisoner exchange, from his home in al-Bireh.
Palestinian media: 'Israel' launches two airstrikes on eastern Khan Younis, Gaza.
Al Mayadeen’s correspondent in Gaza: Israeli occupation forces carry out demolitions in eastern Gaza City.
Venezuelan Foreign Ministry: The National Armed Forces will remain on alert and mobilized in the face of this extremely dangerous provocation.
Venezuelan Foreign Ministry: This is not a defense exercise, but rather a military aggression aimed at turning the Caribbean into a space for violence and US hegemony.

Columbia university probes students for criticizing "Israel"

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 6 Mar 2025 15:38
4 Min Read

Some students believe the university’s crackdown may be reigniting the pro-Palestinian protest movement that shook campuses last year.

Listen
  • x
  • Protesters demonstrate against the Israeli war on Gaza outside the entrance to the campus of Columbia University, Tuesday, April 30, 2024, in New York. (AP)
    Protesters demonstrate against the Israeli war on Gaza outside the entrance to the campus of Columbia University, Tuesday, April 30, 2024, in New York (AP)

Columbia University has launched multiple investigations, spearheaded by the newly established Office of Institutional Equity, to track down students who have voiced criticism of "Israel", according to records obtained by The Associated Press.

In recent weeks, the university has issued notices to dozens of students for actions ranging from sharing pro-Palestinian social media posts to participating in what the school deems “unauthorized” protests.

The creation of this "disciplinary office" has sparked concerns among students, faculty, and free speech advocates, who argue that the university is caving to pressure from President Donald Trump, who has threatened to cut federal funding to universities and deport campus “agitators.”

The big picture

Several students and faculty members told AP that they were accused of attending protests they never participated in or of sharing social media posts they never authored.

Some students believe the university’s crackdown may be reigniting the pro-Palestinian protest movement that shook campuses last year.

In recent days, demonstrators have taken control of multiple buildings at Barnard College, Columbia’s affiliate, in response to the expulsion of two students accused of disrupting an Israeli history class.

The tensions escalated further when several students were arrested following a takeover of a campus building on Wednesday night.

200+ protest ex-Israeli PM's visit to Columbia University 

Related News

US cargo plane lands in Syria base as IOF escalate Quneitra breaches

Nearly 3,800 US flights disrupted amid ongoing government shutdown

Over 200 pro-Palestinian demonstrators gathered outside Columbia University in New York on Tuesday to protest the visit of former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, who was on campus for a speaking event.  

Following more than a year of demonstrations at the university, the appearance of the far-right former leader of "Israel" drew predictable resistance.  

A spokesperson for the Columbia Palestine Solidarity Coalition, one of the groups involved in the protest, criticized the university’s decision to invite Bennett, arguing that it signaled preferential treatment of certain perspectives.  

"The decision to host a man with such a violent and openly discriminatory record sends a message that the university values some voices over others," the spokesperson said in a statement. 

Meanwhile, an anti-Palestine group attempted to counter the protest, prompting police intervention to maintain separation between both demonstrators.

Trump cries anti-Semitism

The demonstration coincided with threats from the Trump administration to cut federal funding for Columbia University over allegations of anti-Semitism. On Monday, the federal government announced it was considering revoking over $50 million in contracts, claiming the university failed to safeguard its Jewish students amid the protests.  

Trump reiterated this stance on his Truth Social platform, warning that federal funding would be revoked from educational institutions allowing what he termed "illegal protests." He also stated that agitators could face imprisonment, deportation, or permanent expulsion, depending on their actions.

Universities across the United States had risen in solidarity with Gaza and Palestine as the Israeli war on the Strip raged on. 

After Columbia students established their Gaza Solidarity Encampment on April 17, University President Nemat Minouche Shafik summoned the NYPD to the campus to disperse the demonstrations, resulting in the arrest of over 100 students. But shortly after, outraged by the footage of their fellow students being arrested, a new group of students arrived on campus and set up another encampment in protest.

The Columbia encampment was forcibly dissolved after police units conducted a massive arrest campaign against students partaking in protests at the university. A hearing took place at the Manhattan criminal courthouse, occurring seven weeks after Columbia University administrators called in a large contingent of armed and heavily armored police officers to dismantle the protest on campus.

Originally held under misdemeanor charges, the dozens of students arrested saw their criminal charges dropped, but faced disciplinary measures such as suspension and expulsion from the university. 

Read more: How Columbia University is the new face of the Intellectual Intifada

  • United States
  • intellectual uprising
  • pro-Palestine protest
  • Palestine
  • Israel
  • US
  • Columbia University
  • Donald Trump

Most Read

'Israel’s Digital Iron Dome: Weaponizing the web against Palestine

'Israel’s Digital Iron Dome: Weaponizing the web against Palestine

  • Technology
  • 24 Oct 2025
Arab League chief exposes secret US deal shielding 'Israel’s' nukes

Arab League chief exposes secret US deal shielding 'Israel’s' nukes

  • Politics
  • 27 Oct 2025
Abu Hamza, the spokesperson for the Al-Quds Brigades, during a speech televised on October 22, 2025 (Al-Quds Brigades Military Media)

Al-Quds Brigades' Abu Hamza mourns leaders, vows continued resistance

  • Politics
  • 22 Oct 2025
US missionary kidnapped in Niger capital, suspected taken toward Mali

US missionary kidnapped in Niger capital, suspected taken toward Mali

  • Africa
  • 23 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
Delta Air Lines flight lands at Harry Reid International Airport, Wednesday, April 9, 2025, in Las Vegas (AP)
Politics

Nearly 3,800 US flights disrupted amid ongoing government shutdown

FILE - The Amazon logo is pictured at the Amazon Robotic Sorting Fulfillment Center in Madison County, Miss., Aug. 11, 2022. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis, File)
Economy

Amazon to cut 30,000 jobs in largest layoff in company history

Eurofighter Typhoon Spain's Air Force fighter jets fly above the military parade marking 'Día de la Hispanidad', or Hispanic Day, in Madrid, Spain, Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025. (AP)
Politics

UK sells 20 Eurofighter jets to Türkiye in £8bn defense agreement

Smoke billows after drone strikes by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) targeted the northern port in the Red Sea city of Port Sudan, Sudan, May 6, 2025 (AP)
Politics

RSF tightens El Fasher siege as Sudan risks fragmentation: Reuters

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS