Columbia cancels main commencement after protests
Columbia University has announced the cancellation of its main, university-wide commencement ceremony that was scheduled to take place on May 15, opting instead for smaller, school-based events. This decision comes in the wake of weeks of pro-Palestinian protests that have significantly affected the Ivy League institution located in New York. The protests, which were part of a broader nationwide response to the Israeli invasion of the Gaza Strip, saw students setting up encampments on university grounds and a resultant escalation of tensions. The situation intensified, leading to the intervention of riot police, who were deployed with batons and flashbang grenades to dispel the protesters. This action resulted in the arrest of hundreds of activists and was met with criticism by civil rights groups, who condemned the police's methods as overly aggressive and a violation of free speech rights. A significant event in the timeline of protests saw the New York City police forcefully removing pro-Palestinian protesters from a Columbia campus building they had barricaded, arresting over 100 individuals and dismantling an encampment. The university, faced with the challenge of ensuring the safety of its campus while navigating the concerns and rights of its students, engaged in discussions with student leaders on how to best proceed with the commencement ceremonies amidst ongoing protests. As a consequence of the unrest and in consultation with its student body, Columbia resolved to relocate the majority of its commencement ceremonies to the main athletic complex, situated approximately five miles from its Upper Manhattan campus, where the protests were primarily concentrated. This move is reflective of a broader trend among colleges and universities across the United States, which have been compelled to reconsider, relocate, or cancel their graduation ceremonies in light of similar protests. Columbia University expressed that the decision to alter the traditional format of its commencement ceremonies was made in light of the "incredibly difficult" past few weeks for the community. The institution remains committed to recognizing its graduating students through the revised arrangement of smaller, school-based events.