News | Administration

Columbia suspends four students who were arrested following Milstein sit-in

The New York Police Department arrested nine individuals Wednesday after pro-Palestinian protesters staged a sit-in at the Milstein Center for Teaching and Learning at Barnard.

By Zohar Ford / Staff Photographer
“We are a campus community governed by our Rules, policies, and the law,” a Friday statement from Columbia’s Office of Public Affairs reads. “Any violations of these will not be tolerated and will have consequences.”
By Spencer Davis and Tulasi Cherukuri • March 7, 2025 at 11:33 PM

Columbia suspended and restricted the campus access of four Columbia students arrested at a sit-in at the Milstein Center for Teaching and Learning at Barnard on Wednesday, the University announced in a Friday Office of Public Affairs statement.

“We have confirmed that four Columbia students were arrested as part of Tuesday’s disruption at Barnard College,” the statement read. “These students have been suspended and restricted from campus as we swiftly work through the discipline process. We are a campus community governed by our Rules, policies, and the law. Any violations of these will not be tolerated and will have consequences.”

The New York Police Department arrested nine individuals Wednesday after pro-Palestinian protesters staged a sit-in at Milstein. During the sit-in, Barnard administrators announced that there was a bomb threat in the building and asked everyone inside to evacuate immediately.

NYPD officers told protesters, who had left the building once police arrived, through a megaphone to “exit the courtyard” due to an “active bomb threat.” When several protesters refused, NYPD officers attempted to push them toward the main Barnard gates. Police officers detained nine individuals—shoving at least two to the ground, according to video reviewed by Spectator—and led them through Milstein and out the Claremont Avenue exit.

The nine arrested protesters were charged with “obstructing governmental administration, trespass, and disorderly conduct,” an NYPD spokesperson told Spectator on Thursday.

“The NYPD is responding to a bomb threat at the Milstein Center at Barnard College and is evacuating the building,” the NYPD posted on X at around 5 p.m. on Wednesday. “Anyone who refuses to leave the location is subject to arrest. Please stay away from the area.”

An NYPD spokesperson told Spectator on Thursday that the police had responded to an “unscheduled demonstration” at Barnard.

“I don’t have anything about a bomb threat,” the spokesperson said.

A Barnard official wrote in a statement to Spectator, “The College requested the NYPD’s presence to assess a bomb threat, not in response to the unauthorized demonstration.”

Deputy News Editor Spencer Davis can be contacted at spencer.davis@columbiaspectator.com. Follow him on X @spencerdaviis.

Deputy News Editor Tulasi Cherukuri can be contacted at tulasi.cherukuri@columbiaspectator.com. Follow Spectator on X @ColumbiaSpec.

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