NEW YORK: Columbia University, the prestigious New York university at the heart of the pro-Palestinian protests across the United States (US) campus against the Israeli military actions in Gaza, announced on Monday that it has canceled the main ceremony for graduating students next week.
The Ivy League institution said it would “forego the university-wide ceremony that is scheduled for May 15” and hold a series of smaller events instead. “We are determined to give our students the celebration they deserve, and that they want,” Columbia announced, saying “Smaller-scale, school-based celebrations are most meaningful to them and their families.”
“We will focus our resources on those school ceremonies and on keeping them safe, respectful, and running smoothly. A great deal of effort is already underway to reach that goal,” the university said.
Demonstrations against Israel’s bombardment in Gaza have rocked campuses across the United States for weeks, prompting crackdowns, mass arrests, and a White House directive to restore order.
Last week, police evicted protesters occupying a Columbia University building and cleared out an unauthorized encampment on the campus lawn.
Meanwhile, pro-Palestinian demonstrations disrupted convocation ceremonies at several major US universities. At Northeastern University and Ohio State University, dozens of protesters were arrested in recent days.
The convocation ceremonies have become a focal point for pro-Palestinian students to voice their grievances and renew calls for their universities to divest from Israel. Demonstrators draped in flags and graduation caps disrupted events at the University of Michigan and Indiana University.
College administrators are implementing security measures to minimize disruptions, including setting up designated protest areas and enhancing existing security protocols.
In response to the protests, police removed a pro-Palestinian encampment from the University of Southern California’s campus, while Kent State University witnessed gatherings reminiscent of historical student protests against the Vietnam War.
Despite clashes and arrests at institutions like the Art Institute of Chicago and the University of Virginia, some universities have reached agreements with pro-Palestinian protesters. Vassar College, Brown University, and Northwestern University have agreed to review divestment proposals, signaling a willingness to engage with student demands.
In a significant development, Evergreen State College in Washington became the first US university to divest completely from Israel following widespread rallies in solidarity with Palestinians. The move, praised by the father of slain activist Rachel Corrie, reflects growing momentum in support of the Palestinian cause.
The agreement at Evergreen State College includes a commitment to publicly call for a ceasefire in Gaza and refrain from approving study abroad programs to Israel.
