On July 21, 2025, the University Judicial Board determined findings and issued sanctions related to two matters: the disruption of Butler Library in May 2025 and the encampment during Alumni Weekend in spring 2024. The University worked diligently to resolve cases related to three high-volume events from spring 2024, and the findings and sanctions issued today relating to the Alumni Weekend encampment are the final set of findings from that period.
Over the past year, the University has worked to strengthen and clarify the disciplinary process for our community and devoted significant resources to the Rules Administration, including the development of an Office of Rules Administration, and situating the University Judicial Board and Rules process and the interpretation and modification of the Rules in the Office of the Provost. These structural reforms are currently in place and have been followed with respect to UJB proceedings and the Rules since they became effective on March 20. These improvements have helped to provide that the University’s Rules are applied and enforced fairly, consistently, and effectively, and that the Rules process operates more expeditiously.
Immediately following the disruption at Butler Library during reading period, which affected hundreds of students attempting to study, the University began an investigation into Rules violations, banned participating individuals from affiliated institutions and non-affiliates from campus, and placed Columbia participants on interim suspension. The University Judicial Board held hearings, in which respondents had an opportunity to be heard and make their case, and then determined findings and issued sanctions approximately 10 weeks following the incident.
The sanctions issued on July 21 by the University Judicial Board were determined by a UJB panel of professors and administrators who worked diligently over the summer to offer an outcome for each individual based on the findings of their case and prior disciplinary outcomes. While the University does not release individual disciplinary results of any student, the sanctions from Butler Library include probation, suspensions (ranging from one year to three years), degree revocations, and expulsions.
Our institution must focus on delivering on its academic mission for our community. And to create a thriving academic community, there must be respect for each other and the institution’s fundamental work, policies, and rules. Disruptions to academic activities are in violation of University policies and Rules, and such violations will necessarily generate consequences. The speed with which our updated UJB system has offered an equitable resolution to the community and students involved is a testament to the hard work of this institution to improve its processes.
