Columbia University alumni rip up their diplomas in protest of school and leadership
Instead of joining in Columbia University’s annual “Alumni Day” celebrations for the School of International and Public Affairs, several alumni gathered to denounce the school by ripping up their diplomas in protest.
Instead of joining in Columbia University’s annual “Alumni Day” celebrations for the School of International and Public Affairs, several alumni gathered to denounce the school by ripping up their diplomas in protest.
The protest follows the detention of Mahmoud Khalil, a graduate student at the School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA), a Palestinian activist and a green card holder. Khalil was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents at his university-owned apartment on March 8.
Current students and alumni of Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs demonstrated against the school in New York on Saturday, March 29, 2025, with some ripping up their diplomas.Maya Eaglin / NBC NewsThe demonstration was organized by SIPA Alumni for Palestine and began with a group of alumni and current student speakers, a few dozen people chanting and then a collective ripping of diplomas.
“It’s not easy to do this, with none of us doing this lightly. There’s no joy in this,” said Amali Tower, a 2009 SIPA graduate who spoke at the protest.
Tower said as an immigrant who experienced displacement, she had to fight hard to get her master’s in international affairs at Columbia.
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