Barnard College Expels Students Over Israel Class Disruption
The Facts
- Two Barnard College seniors were expelled following their disruption of a Columbia University "History of Modern Israel" course on Jan. 21, 2024, where masked protesters entered the classroom during Professor Avi Shilon's lecture, banged drums, and distributed inflammatory materials.
- The protesters distributed flyers depicting a boot stepping on a Star of David with phrases like "CRUSH ZIONISM" and "burn Zionism to the ground," while chanting "free Palestine" during the first day of spring semester classes.
- A Columbia University student who participated in the protest was also suspended and barred from campus, while the two Barnard students were initially suspended on Jan. 24 before their eventual expulsion.
Sources Split
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The Spin
Narrative A
The classroom disruption represents a fundamental breach of academic principles and threatens the safety and integrity of the learning environment. The protesters targeted specific communities and courses with violent imagery and intimidating behavior, making decisive action necessary to maintain educational standards. The decision to expel these students was justified.
Narrative B
The protest was a legitimate form of student activism against what protesters viewed as problematic course content. The harsh punishment of expulsion represents a serious escalation in the crackdown on student activism and free speech regarding Palestinian rights.
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