The Columbia University administration has disciplined students who participated in last spring’s pro-Palestinian demonstrations with both multi-year suspensions and expulsions. The educational institution faces these actions after the Trump administration terminated federal funding worth $400 million due to accusations that Columbia failed to reduce antisemitism activity at the institution.
Interim President Katrina Armstrong disclosed that the university works closely with federal authorities as she reacted to their concerns. The punishments against students emerged because students occupied Hamilton Hall which became the central location during demonstrations after Hamas attacked Israel followed by the US-supported Israeli military operation in Gaza.
The university refused to name or count the students expelled because of privacy restrictions although the United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 2710 disclosed their president Grant Miner was among those dismissed just prior to their bargaining session with the institution. The union issued a statement to condemn this move because they regarded it as a violation of free speech rights protected by the First Amendment. 
Federal agents have recently arrested Mahmoud Khalil who leads protests at Columbia as administration officials state their goal includes deporting Hamas supporters. A federal judge issued a stay to suspend his deportation process at the present time.
Columbia serves as a central location for nation-wide student protests which call for both Israeli interest divestment and elimination of American funding to Israel while agencies from the federal government step up their oversight.
