Columbia students arrested in Gaza protest return to school
- Dozens of Columbia students were arrested for protesting over Israel's war in Gaza.
- Majority of the arrested students will be returning to school this fall.
- The students' return marks a continuation of their education despite the past protests.
The majority of Columbia University students arrested during protests related to the ongoing conflict in Gaza will be allowed to return to campus this fall. A report from a Congressional committee investigating the university's handling of antisemitism revealed that dozens of students, who faced interim suspensions after their arrests in the spring, will enroll in classes while awaiting disciplinary hearings. This includes students involved in protests in late April and those who occupied Hamilton Hall, a site of historical student activism. Among the 22 students arrested for occupying Hamilton Hall on April 30, four remain in a state of disciplinary uncertainty, with three under interim suspension and one on probation from a previous incident. Notably, charges against these students were ultimately dropped. Rep. Virginia Foxx, chair of the Education Committee, criticized Columbia's administration for what she described as a failure to hold students accountable for their actions during the protests, calling the situation "disgraceful and unacceptable." Columbia University has stated that the disciplinary process is still ongoing for many involved in the protests, and efforts are being made to expedite the hearings due to the high volume of cases. The university was a focal point for pro-Palestinian protests last academic year, which sparked similar demonstrations at institutions nationwide, leading to incidents of intimidation and harassment among students. In anticipation of potential protests in the upcoming semester, particularly around the anniversary of the October 7th attacks on Israel, Columbia is reportedly developing a plan to address any disruptions.