Columbia University Cancels Main Graduation Event
2024-05-07
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1New York City's Columbia University announced Monday that it would cancel its main end-of-year event, or commencement, scheduled for May 15.
2The decision comes after weeks of pro-Palestinian protests that have disrupted the second half of the school year.
3Some Jewish students have said they felt unsafe at the school.
4Officials moved classes online and city police arrested numerous students after they entered a school building, Hamilton Hall, without permission.
5Not all events celebrating the end of student study programs will be canceled.
6Individual schools will still go ahead with their smaller graduation events.
7The events will not take place on the school's main campus area where the protesters had set up a camp.
8Instead, they will mostly take place at the university's sports area, about eight kilometers away.
9In its announcement, Columbia stated recent weeks have been "incredibly difficult."
10The school said it talked with students before making the decision.
11Officials said the smaller, school-centered ceremonies were the most important for students and their families.
12"They are eager to cross the stage to applause and family pride and hear from their school's invited guest speakers," the university said.
13The protest camp at the university involved about 200 demonstrators.
14They were calling for an end to the war between Israel and Hamas that is taking place in the Gaza Strip.
15The protesters demanded that Columbia sell its investments in Israeli businesses and American businesses that assist Israel's war effort.
16Media reports say the Columbia protests prompted other demonstrations at American universities.
17These include the University of Southern California (USC); the University of California, Los Angeles; and the University of Michigan.
18USC also cancelled its main graduation event after students protested.
19Students left their protest camp at USC on Sunday after police moved in and threatened them with arrest.
20Some university graduation events have already taken place.
21At the University of Michigan's event on Saturday, chanting students slowed down the event more than once.
22In Boston, some students waved Palestinian and others waved Israeli flags at Northeastern University's ceremony.
23I'm Dan Friedell.
1New York City's Columbia University announced Monday that it would cancel its main end-of-year event, or commencement, scheduled for May 15. 2The decision comes after weeks of pro-Palestinian protests that have disrupted the second half of the school year. 3Some Jewish students have said they felt unsafe at the school. Officials moved classes online and city police arrested numerous students after they entered a school building, Hamilton Hall, without permission. 4Not all events celebrating the end of student study programs will be canceled. Individual schools will still go ahead with their smaller graduation events. The events will not take place on the school's main campus area where the protesters had set up a camp. Instead, they will mostly take place at the university's sports area, about eight kilometers away. 5In its announcement, Columbia stated recent weeks have been "incredibly difficult." The school said it talked with students before making the decision. Officials said the smaller, school-centered ceremonies were the most important for students and their families. "They are eager to cross the stage to applause and family pride and hear from their school's invited guest speakers," the university said. 6The protest camp at the university involved about 200 demonstrators. They were calling for an end to the war between Israel and Hamas that is taking place in the Gaza Strip. The protesters demanded that Columbia sell its investments in Israeli businesses and American businesses that assist Israel's war effort. 7Media reports say the Columbia protests prompted other demonstrations at American universities. These include the University of Southern California (USC); the University of California, Los Angeles; and the University of Michigan. 8USC also cancelled its main graduation event after students protested. Students left their protest camp at USC on Sunday after police moved in and threatened them with arrest. 9Some university graduation events have already taken place. At the University of Michigan's event on Saturday, chanting students slowed down the event more than once. In Boston, some students waved Palestinian and others waved Israeli flags at Northeastern University's ceremony. 10I'm Dan Friedell. 11Dan Friedell adapted this story for Learning English based on a report by The Associated Press. 12_____________________________________ 13Words in This Story 14disrupt -v. to interfere with normal activities 15graduation -n. the successful completion of a course of study at a school or college 16eager -adj. very willing 17applause -n. clapping hands as a sign of praise and approval 18pride -n. being please with something you have done 19prompt -v. to cause someone to do something through a sign or a suggestion 20chant -v. to say something repeatedly at the same time with other people 21We want to hear from you. How would you feel if you could not have your main graduation event after 4 years of college?