Barnard College expelled two students for disrupting a Columbia University class on Modern Israeli History, sparking backlash and calls for further protests from pro-Palestinian activists. The incident marks the first known expulsions of Columbia-affiliated students over pro-Palestinian protests, raising tensions over academic freedom and antisemitism on campus, reports The Jerusalem Post.
On January 21, members of Columbia University Apartheid Divest (CUAD) disrupted a lecture by Dr. Avi Shilon, an Israeli historian teaching the History of Modern Israel course. The protesters entered the classroom masked, delivered a speech, and distributed leaflets featuring violent imagery, including one depicting a boot crushing a Star of David with the slogan „Crush Zionism.” Another flyer called to „burn Zionism to the ground” alongside an image of a masked figure holding a burning Israeli flag.
Following the incident, Barnard College suspended the two students on January 24 and later expelled them. A third participant, identified as a Columbia student, was suspended pending further investigation. Columbia University barred the expelled students from campus and condemned the actions as an assault on intellectual freedom.
CUAD publicly took responsibility for the protest, framing it as an opposition to „Zionist education” and calling for more classroom disruptions. In a statement, CUAD claimed, „History of Modern Israel isn’t the only Columbia class training future foot soldiers and managers of genocide. We have an even greater duty to disrupt them all as students of elite universities.”
In response to the expulsions, CUAD announced a week of activism from Monday to Thursday, vowing to escalate their protests. They argued that classes on Zionism „should not exist without disruption,” urging students to join their campaign.
Columbia University and Barnard College swiftly condemned CUAD’s actions. Barnard College President Laura Ann Rosenbury stated, „When uninvited visitors enter classrooms with the intention of interfering with learning – let alone when they target specific courses, communities, or individuals – they betray the very principles of intellectual exchange that underpin our community.”
Columbia reiterated that CUAD is not a recognised student organisation and declared that „disruptions in academic spaces will not be tolerated.” The university stressed its commitment to safeguarding academic freedom and ensuring that students can learn in a respectful and safe environment.
The incident has heightened concerns about antisemitism on campus. The distribution of flyers with violent imagery and slogans targeting Zionism and the Star of David drew criticism for crossing the line from political protest to hate speech.
This episode adds to a growing pattern of antisemitic incidents on US campuses amid rising tensions over the Israel-Palestine conflict. Columbia’s strong stance against classroom disruptions highlights the challenges universities face in balancing freedom of speech with protecting students from targeted harassment.
As CUAD plans further protests, university officials remain vigilant, reaffirming their zero-tolerance policy towards antisemitism and hate speech. The situation continues to escalate, with both sides standing firm in their positions, reflecting the broader polarisation over Middle East politics on college campuses.
Photo credit: SHUTTERSTOCK
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