VOA教育报道2024--Columbia University Cancels Main Graduation Event

New York City's Columbia University announced Monday that it would cancel its main end-of-year event, or commencement, scheduled for May 15.

The decision comes after weeks of pro-Palestinian protests that have disrupted the second half of the school year.

Some Jewish students have said they felt unsafe at the school. Officials moved classes online and city police arrested numerous students after they entered a school building, Hamilton Hall, without permission.

Not all events celebrating the end of student study programs will be canceled. Individual schools will still go ahead with their smaller graduation events. The events will not take place on the school's main campus area where the protesters had set up a camp. Instead, they will mostly take place at the university's sports area, about eight kilometers away.

In its announcement, Columbia stated recent weeks have been "incredibly difficult." The school said it talked with students before making the decision. Officials said the smaller, school-centered ceremonies were the most important for students and their families. "They are eager to cross the stage to applause and family pride and hear from their school's invited guest speakers," the university said.

The protest camp at the university involved about 200 demonstrators. They were calling for an end to the war between Israel and Hamas that is taking place in the Gaza Strip. The protesters demanded that Columbia sell its investments in Israeli businesses and American businesses that assist Israel's war effort.

Media reports say the Columbia protests prompted other demonstrations¹ at American universities. These include the University of Southern California (USC); the University of California, Los Angeles; and the University of Michigan.

USC also cancelled its main graduation event after students protested. Students left their protest camp at USC on Sunday after police moved in and threatened them with arrest.

Some university graduation events have already taken place. At the University of Michigan's event on Saturday, chanting students slowed down the event more than once. In Boston, some students waved Palestinian and others waved Israeli flags at Northeastern University's ceremony.

Words in This Story

disrupt -v. to interfere² with normal activities

graduation -n. the successful completion of a course of study at a school or college

eager -adj. very willing

applause -n. clapping hands as a sign of praise and approval

pride -n. being please with something you have done

prompt -v. to cause someone to do something through a sign or a suggestion

chant -v. to say something repeatedly at the same time with other people

1 demonstrations   

证明( demonstration的名词复数 )； 表明； 表达； 游行示威

参考例句：

• Lectures will be interspersed with practical demonstrations. 讲课中将不时插入实际示范。
• The new military government has banned strikes and demonstrations. 新的军人政府禁止罢工和示威活动。

2 interfere   

v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰

参考例句：

• If we interfere, it may do more harm than good.如果我们干预的话，可能弊多利少。
• When others interfere in the affair,it always makes troubles. 别人一卷入这一事件，棘手的事情就来了。