 Caitlin Ochs/ReutersColumbia is canceling its university-wide commencement ceremony later this month and will instead proceed with "smaller-scale, school-based celebrations," officials said Monday, after several weeks of turmoil on campus amid protests around Israel's war in Gaza.
In a statement, the Ivy League school said "Class Days and school-level ceremonies, where students are honored individually alongside their peers," would form the "centerpiece" of commencement activities "rather than the University-wide ceremony that is scheduled for May 15." It added that it would be focusing resources on ensuring that the ceremonies are kept "safe, respectful, and running smoothly."
The decision comes after weeks of tension between pro-Palestinian activists and school officials that have seen demonstrators suspended and even arrested in police crackdowns. The encampment that sprang up at the New York City campus has inspired activists to launch similar protest campaigns at other schools around the U.S. and internationally.
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