Barnard College has lifted the suspensions of most of the 53 students who were arrested during a pro-Palestinian protest at Columbia University. The students who reached agreements with the college will have their access to campus facilities immediately restored. The college stated that it remains committed to supporting students with diverse backgrounds and perspectives and ensuring a safe and inclusive environment for the community. The tensions on college campuses have been high amid the Israel-Hamas war, leading to ongoing antiwar protests at Columbia and Barnard.
The protest at Columbia’s encampment led to the arrest of about 100 students, including many from Barnard, prompting the suspension of students involved. Negotiations between lawyers for the students and the college led to agreements being reached, allowing students to return to class and their dorms with the condition that they do not break the rules again. The students organized the encampment in support of divestment from companies connected to Israel, which sparked solidarity protests at campuses across the country.
Legal negotiations were carried out between the students, their lawyers, and the college, resulting in the lifting of suspensions for most of the students. Among the protesters was Isra Hirsi, the daughter of Representative Ilhan Omar, who participated in the demonstration at Columbia. Barnard had previously implemented strict rules to prevent campus unrest, including limitations on dorm door decorations related to the Palestinian cause, which caused backlash among students. The encampment at Columbia has grown in size following the initial arrests, but the university is in negotiations with students and has not involved the police.
The students involved in the protest condemned Columbia and Barnard’s actions, calling them unjust, especially considering that they were peacefully protesting for divestment and a free Palestine. Negotiations led by Columbia Law School professor Katherine Franke resulted in the lifting of suspensions, with a focus on the severe mental and physical health issues some students were experiencing as a result of being barred from campus. While the agreement with Barnard reinstated the students, those taking Columbia classes are still not allowed on campus, according to Franke.
The lifting of suspensions comes after days of negotiations between students and the college, as well as solidarity protests across various campuses in response to the arrests. Barnard’s decision to allow the suspended students to return to campus was seen as a result of a mass movement defending the students’ right to housing. The encampment at Columbia began on the same day that Columbia University’s president testified about antisemitism on elite college campuses, leading to the police action against the protesters. The students involved emphasized the importance of their right to protest and their commitment to advocating for divestment from companies connected to Israel.
