Columbia University Cancels Commencement Ceremony

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.