Columbia cancels commencement amid campus protests

• The university's administration and police have cracked down through a wave of arrests, suspensions and class cancellations.

Zoom in: The commencement ceremonies were scheduled for May 15.

• Instead, the school will focus on "Class Days and school-level ceremonies, where students are honored individually alongside their peers," the university said in a press release.
• These events have also been relocated from Columbia's Morningside Campus' South lawn — the former location of protesters' pro-Palestinian encampment — to other venues.
• The school emphasized that the timings of these smaller events remain unchanged.

What they're saying: "These past few weeks have been incredibly difficult for our community," the university said, adding that it is still considering a "festive event" to take the place of the large ceremony.

• "We are eager to all come together for our graduates and celebrate our fellow Columbians as they, and we, look ahead to the future," the school added.

Zoom out: The University of Southern California was the first known major university to cancel a graduation ceremony over the demonstrations.

Catch up quick: After Columbia leaders testified at a GOP-led congressional hearing in April, university president Minouche Shafik called on the New York Police Department to remove protestors from campus.

• More than 100 people were arrested, sprouting solidarity protests and encampments at other universities across the U.S.
• Last week, protesters occupied and barricaded Columbia's Hamilton Hall. Hours later, New York police moved onto Columbia to clear the building, arresting 109 demonstrators.

Go deeper:

• Columbia calls talks on students' Gaza protest encampment "constructive"
• Columbia goes remote after campus arrests
• Education Dept. probes Columbia over alleged anti-Palestinian discrimination

Editor's note: This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.