Columbia University cancels school-wide commencement ceremony

Columbia University announced Monday it has canceled its university-wide commencement ceremony originally scheduled for May 15 after weeks of campus unrest.

The decision comes as the school has experienced pro-Palestinian demonstrations and encampments on campus over the last few weeks, with students protesting the Israeli military campaign in Gaza and calling for Columbia to divest from companies with ties to Israel.

“We are determined to give our students the celebration they deserve, and that they want,” the university said in a Monday statement announcing the change.

Graduating students will still be honored individually alongside their classmates in smaller school-specific ceremonies, Columbia said, rather than on at a school-wide ceremony.

“Our students emphasized that these smaller-scale, school-based celebrations are most meaningful to them and their families,” the announcement said. “They are eager to cross the stage to applause and family pride and hear from their school’s invited guest speakers.”