Protesters Demand Reinstatement of Expelled Students at Barnard College
Executive Summary
Pro-Palestinian protesters staged a sit-in at Barnard College’s Milbank Hall, demanding the reinstatement of two students expelled for disrupting a class on modern Israel. The demonstration escalated into a tense standoff with Barnard administrators, who refused to meet publicly with protesters and later condemned the occupation of the building as an act of aggression. The protest ended with a tentative agreement for private negotiations, but tensions remained high as counterprotesters gathered, security restrictions were tightened, and NYPD officers monitored the situation.
Analysis
The protest, organized by Columbia University Apartheid Divest (CUAD), began Wednesday afternoon when demonstrators occupied Milbank Hall outside the office of Barnard Dean Leslie Grinage. Protesters, some of whom were masked, called for an “immediate reversal” of the expulsions of two students who had disrupted a class on modern Israel on January 21. They also demanded:
Amnesty for all students facing disciplinary action for pro-Palestinian activism
A public meeting with Barnard administrators
A complete overhaul of Barnard’s disciplinary system
Sit-in Escalates Amid Confrontation with Barnard Administration
Protesters refused to leave the building for over six hours, writing slogans such as “Dean Grinage is a fascist” on the walls and covering security cameras with masking tape. They also spelled out “For Hind” on the door of the dean’s office, referencing Hind Rajab, a Palestinian child killed in Gaza in early 2024. Barnard faculty members attempted to mediate, but administrators insisted that any meeting be private, unrecorded, and limited to a few representatives. Protesters pushed back, arguing that at least some student negotiators should remain masked and that a legal observer must be present.
As the protest continued into the evening, Barnard closed the main entrance to Milbank Hall and instructed faculty to cancel or relocate classes. Meanwhile, counterprotesters gathered outside the building, attempting to enter but failing to gain access.
Assault Allegations and Security Crackdown
At 8:34 p.m., Barnard issued a statement condemning the protest, accusing demonstrators of forcibly entering the building and assaulting a staff member, who was reportedly hospitalized. The New York Police Department later confirmed that a 41-year-old man had sustained minor injuries during an altercation inside Milbank Hall, but as of late Wednesday night, no arrests had been made. Protesters countered this claim, alleging that campus security had used excessive force against them.
In response, Barnard threatened disciplinary action against the demonstrators and increased security measures. By Thursday morning, campus access had been restricted to Barnard ID holders, with only one entrance remaining open. Barnard also handed out disciplinary notices to students as they left the protest, warning that those who did not disperse voluntarily would face sanctions.
Picket Line and Continued Tensions
On Thursday afternoon, CUAD-led protesters gathered outside Barnard’s gates to continue pressuring the administration. They distributed flyers reiterating their demands, with some protesters chanting, “Free, free Palestine” and holding signs reading “No more Zionist occupation.” Student representatives attempted to negotiate with administrators but accused Barnard of acting in “bad faith” by renegotiating meeting terms at the last minute.
A small group of counterprotesters, including Columbia Business School professor Shai Davidai and members of the End Jew Hatred movement, gathered nearby waving Israeli flags and playing Israeli music. NYPD officers remained on the scene and later detained one individual after protesters left Barnard’s gates.
Divided Reactions and Calls for Expulsions
The protest has sparked intense debate both within and beyond Columbia’s campus. Pro-Palestinian groups view Barnard’s disciplinary actions as an attack on student activism, while critics argue that the college should take an even harder stance against disruptive demonstrations. Conservative commentators have called for the expulsion of all students involved in the sit-in, arguing that institutions must crack down on campus radicalism to maintain order.
Barnard has defended its handling of the situation, stating that student protests must not escalate into intimidation or violence. In a statement, President Laura Rosenbury emphasized that “expulsion is always an extraordinary measure, but so too is our commitment to respect, inclusion, and the integrity of the academic experience.”
As tensions persist, the administration now faces pressure from both sides—activists demanding concessions and disciplinary leniency, and critics insisting on stricter enforcement of campus policies. The incident underscores the deepening divide over Israel-Palestine discourse on American college campuses, with Columbia and Barnard once again at the center of the national debate.
