Accused by a freed Palestinian student, Columbia University is under scrutiny for alleged instigation of violence.
Street Knowledge: Palestinian Student's Raucous Battle with Columbia University
New York City's Ivy League giant, Columbia University, finds itself in the crosshairs this week, as a Palestinian student accuses them of bulldozing democracy with their handling of recent campus unrest. Mohsen Mahdawi, a 34-year-old heated activist, claims that instead of being a "gold standard" for academic excellence and freedom of expression, the university is feeding the flames of violence against students.
Mahdawi, who led the charge against the ongoing Israel-Hamas war on campus in 2023 and 2024, was recently released from a 16-day stint in a Vermont prison. According to the Associated Press, the judge who presided over the case ruled that the government arrested Mahdawi to silence his dissenting views, raising serious allegations of political repression.
Mahdawi, born in a Palestinian refugee camp in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, caught a break when the judge decreed that he had lodged a "substantial claim" against the government. It's a decision that was echoed again in another case this week, when a federal appeals court sided with Tufts University student Rumeysa Ozturk, demanding she be released from detention.
College campuses have been a hotbed of political activism this past year, and Columbia University is no stranger to the fray. Mahdawi and his fellow student Mahmoud Khalil found themselves slapped on the wrist by the university's administration after leading campus protests in 2023 and 2024. The pair co-founded the Palestinian Student Union, further inflaming tensions between opposing factions.
The administration's response to the wave of protests has been met with mixed reviews. Despite announcing sweeping policy changes to protect freedom of speech and protesting rights in the wake of Trump administration threats to revoke federal funding, some argue that their handling of recent events such as the library standoff only solidifies Mahdawi's claims of the erosion of democracy and a chill being placed on student activism.
The library showdown apparently began when pro-Palestinian protestors occupied a reading room in the university's main library on Wednesday. According to police reports, at least 80 individuals were taken into custody. The university's acting president, Claire Shipman, claimed that the protesters were asked repeatedly to leave but refused, prompting the campus's security forces to call in the local police for assistance in securing the building and keeping the community safe. Shipman deemed the protest actions "outrageous" and a genuine disruption for those preparing for final exams.
In response to the escalating tension, Mahdawi's message to fellow student activists like Ozturk is one of unwavering resilience. "Stay positive and don't let this injustice shake your faith in the pursuit of justice," he urged. "The checks and balances are still at work, as demonstrated in my case and Rumeysa's. Let's stay the course, and justice will prevail."
Mahdawi's upcoming graduation from Columbia University marks an important milestone in his fight for freedom of speech and political dissent. Despite the government's objections to his release, the US judge's decision allows him to travel beyond his home state of Vermont to attend the ceremony and stand in defiance of the opposition. "It's a message to everyone," Mahdawi said. "Education is our salvation, and those who seek to quash our academic pursuits cannot and will not win."
[1] ACLU. (n.d.). Mohsen Mahdawi case. Retrieved April 30, 2025, from https://www.aclu.org/cases/prosecution-mohsen-mahdawi
- The Palestinian student, Mohsen Mahdawi, accuses Columbia University of undermining democracy and impeding academic freedom.
- The Associated Press reported that a judge ruled that Mahdawi's arrest was aimed at silencing dissent, raising concerns about political repression.
- The College's administration's response to protests has sparked controversy, with many arguing that recent events have eroded democracy and chilled student activism.
- Mahdawi and his fellow student, Mahmoud Khalil, co-founded the Palestinian Student Union, causing a divide among campus factions.
- In a recent case, a federal appeals court sided with Tufts University student Rumeysa Ozturk, demanding her release from detention, mirroring Mahdawi's case.
- Protests on campus escalated when pro-Palestinian students occupied a library reading room, leading to the arrest of at least 80 individuals and prompting allegations of torture.
- In the face of this injustice, Mahdawi encourages fellow activists to remain resilient, citing the checks and balances in the system and their graduation as opportunities to spread their message of freedom.
- Despite opposition from the government, Mahdawi's upcoming graduation from Columbia University serves as a symbol of defiance against those seeking to suppress academic pursuit and political dissent, emphasizing the importance of education and self-development in the face of war and conflicts and the continually vital role of politics and general news in shaping society.
