Columbia University Cancels Commencement Ceremony
Summary from the AllSides News Team
On Monday, Columbia University canceled campus-wide commencement ceremonies that were scheduled for May 15 due to campus protests and the recent occupation of the administration building by protesters.
Key Details: Columbia announced it will instead hold school-level ceremonies and Class Days to honor students alongside their peers.
Key Quote: "These past few weeks have been incredibly difficult for our community," the university said, adding that it is still considering a "festive event" to take the place of the large ceremony.
For Context: Last week, Columbia began suspending protesters who refused to leave their encampment and announced class cancellations. Colleges across the United States have become stages for student protests over the war in Gaza.
How the Media Covered it: Sources across the political spectrum noted that student leaders and graduating students were consulted before the university decided to cancel the commencement ceremony amid safety concerns.
Featured Coverage of this Story
From the Right
Columbia cancels university-wide graduation ceremony after weeks of anti-Israel protestsColumbia University is canceling its university-wide commencement ceremony on May 15 after weeks of disruptive and violent anti-Israel protests on campus, officials at the Ivy League school said Monday.
Instead, the university is opting for “smaller-scale, school-based celebrations.”
“We have decided to make the centerpiece of our commencement activities our class days and school-level ceremonies, where students are honored individually alongside their peers, rather than the university-wide ceremony that is scheduled for May 15,” the school said in an announcement.
The pared-back ceremonies will also no longer be held on the...
From the Center
Columbia University cancels school-wide commencement ceremonyColumbia University announced Monday it has canceled its university-wide commencement ceremony originally scheduled for May 15 after weeks of campus unrest.
The decision comes as the school has experienced pro-Palestinian demonstrations and encampments on campus over the last few weeks, with students protesting the Israeli military campaign in Gaza and calling for Columbia to divest from companies with ties to Israel.
“We are determined to give our students the celebration they deserve, and that they want,” the university said in a Monday statement announcing the change.
Graduating students will still be...
From the Left
Columbia cancels universitywide commencement ceremony after weeks of protests on campusColumbia will replace its universitywide commencement ceremony on May 15 with "smaller-scale, school-based celebrations," university officials announced Monday, after weeks of pro-Palestinian and counterprotests on campus.
The Ivy League school said the decision was made after discussions with student leaders. Security concerns were a main reason behind the decision, a university official told NBC News.
"Our students emphasized that these smaller-scale, school-based celebrations are most meaningful to them and their families," the university said Monday. "They are eager to cross the stage to applause and family pride and hear from their school’s...
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