CU Suspends Jewish, Palestinian Groups After Multiple Rules ‘Violated’

UPPER WEST SIDE, NY - Columbia University suspended two student groups, Students for Justice in Palestine and Jewish Voice for Peace, after the groups “repeatedly violated” university policies related to holding on-campus events, school officials said Friday.

The violations apparently culminated in an unauthorized event Thursday, which was held “despite warnings and included threatening rhetoric and intimidation,” the school said in a statement posted to the university website.

At least one protest in solidarity with the student groups is planned for 4:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Sundial on Columbia's Morningside Heights campus.

This is the peaceful art installion that led to the suspension of Columbia Students for Justice in Palestine.

I participated in a similar gathering for Ukraine in the same venue, but no one was suspended.

Double standards. It’s all about the money, money, money. 💸 pic.twitter.com/ovlSv3x7QH
— Atoyyni (@atoyyni) November 12, 2023

"You can shut our organizations down, but can't stop our hearts from beating for liberation, humanity and the freedom of Palestine," the groups said in a joint statement posted to Instagram. "Our actions will be louder than our words. For all the people who are yearning for freedom, and for the media outlets: keep an eye on Columbia."

As a result of the suspension, both groups will no longer be eligible to host on-campus events or receive university funding, according to the university's announcement.

“Lifting the suspension will be contingent on the two groups demonstrating a commitment to compliance with University policies and engaging in consultations at a group leadership level with University officials,” the announcement reads.

“During this especially charged time on our campus, we are strongly committed to giving space to student groups to participate in debate, advocacy, and protest. This relies on community members abiding by the rules and cooperating with University administrators who have a duty to ensure the safety of everyone in our community.”

The suspension won’t extend to other Jewish student groups, such as Jewish Women on Campus, Jewish Activist Collective, Hillel. Students for Justice in Palestine, however, is listed as the only Palestine-related official undergraduate student group on the university's website.

Thursday’s event, held by the suspended Students for Justice in Palestine and Jewish Voice for Peace groups, reportedly called for an immediate ceasefire and featured art installations, including one with Alma Mater - the university’s iconic bronze sculpture - holding the Palestinian Flag, according to photos posted to X.

Separately, students at the Columbia School of Social Work participated a sit-in on Wednesday despite threats of academic sanctions, per Democracy Now.

“Columbia Columbia hear us loud,” reads a flyer for the solidarity protest with the suspended student groups. “We will not be silenced.”

According to the same flyer, the event is organized by Dar, the Palestinian Students Union at Columbia, which will be representing the non-campus affiliated Columbia University Apartheid Divest coalition.

Access to the Morningside Heights campus remains restricted until further notice, as students and staff continue to require ID to enter. The restriction went into effect hours before a Call To Action For Palestine” student protest organized by Columbia Students for Justice in Palestine was scheduled on Oct. 12. Read more: Columbia University Access Restricted Amid Israel-Hamas War Protests

The restriction was instated to “help maintain safety and a sense of community through planned demonstration activities,” according to a memo signed by a University Facilities and Operations official last month.

The restriction also came a day after a 19-year-old from Brooklyn reportedly assaulted a Columbia University student from Israel with a stick in front of Butler Library, police said. Read more: Israeli Columbia Student Assaulted With Stick On Campus: NYPD, Report

Hate crimes are 40% down year-over-year in Morningside Heights, according to NYPD data, with six reported in 2023 to date compared with 10 hate crimes reported this time last year.