Civil rights groups sued Columbia University on Tuesday over the suspension of two pro-Palestine student groups last October, following the commencement of the Israel-Hamas war.
Columbia University took action in November by suspending two student groups, Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) and Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP). The university deemed their protests as unauthorized and a potential threat to campus safety.
The New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU) and Palestine Legal have filed a lawsuit against the university, alleging that it has unfairly targeted the two student groups in response to their protests. The suit argues that the university has imposed disproportionate punishments, such as suspension, for minor procedural violations.
According to Donna Lieberman, the Executive Director of NYCLU, universities should foster an environment of open debate, discussion, and education, rather than becoming platforms for censorship, where administrators, donors, and politicians suppress political discourse that they don’t agree with. She expressed her concerns in a statement, emphasizing that the student groups in question were peacefully expressing their views on an important global conflict. However, Columbia University disregarded its own established rules and suspended these organizations abruptly.
“It’s retaliatory, it’s targeted, and it goes against the principles of free speech that should be upheld by institutions of higher education,” she explained passionately. “Even students protesting at private colleges deserve fair and equal treatment, and we are prepared to take this fight to court.”
Private universities are not obligated to adhere to the First Amendment, however, New York law mandates that these institutions must follow their own policy when it comes to disciplinary proceedings. The lawsuit claims that Columbia University violated its own policies by singling out the student groups.
SJP and JVP are at the center of a nationwide debate over campus protests in response to the Israel-Hamas war, with schools and universities attempting to balance free speech concerns with accusations of antisemitism and congressional pressure on the issue.
Just weeks before Columbia suspended the groups, Florida education officials ruled that SJP be banned from public university campuses, provoking a court fight and fury among activists.
The NYCLU issued a threat to Columbia last month, demanding the reinstatement of the groups to avoid legal action. As a result, the suit has been filed.
Columbia University has chosen not to provide any comments on the lawsuit, citing its policy of not commenting on ongoing litigation. However, a spokesperson from the university has confirmed that discussions have taken place between the student organizations involved and university staff to address the issue of the suspensions.
The spokesperson stated that the group’s representatives have had discussions with staff advisers regarding the process of reinstatement. It is crucial for the groups to agree to comply with the policies and procedures set by the university. If they agree to follow these steps and fully adhere to the university’s rules, there is a possibility of reinstatement. However, at this moment, they have not yet made a commitment to do so and continue to remain suspended.
