Columbia cancels university-wide graduation ceremony amid protests
MORNINGSIDE HEIGHTS, Manhattan (PIX11) – Columbia University will no longer be holding a university-wide graduation ceremony on May 15 amid pro-Palestinian protests taking place on campus, school officials announced Monday.
School-based ceremonies will still take place. Any ceremony that was expected to be held on the South Lawn will now be held at Columbia’s Baker Athletics Complex.
Tickets are required for the ceremonies.
Pro-Palestinian protesters have been stationed at the Columbia campus for several weeks. The NYPD has been called to remove protesters numerous times, leading to hundreds of arrests.
Students are calling for Columbia to divest from companies that support Israel.
"Just as we are focused on making our graduation experience truly special, we continue to solicit student feedback and are looking at the possibility of a festive event on May 15 to take the place of the large, formal ceremony," Columbia wrote.
Erin Pflaumer is a digital content producer from Long Island who has covered both local and national news since 2018. She joined PIX11 in 2023. See more of her work here.