Since the horrific October 7, 2023 terrorist attack against Israel, a wave of antisemitism and pro-Hamas riots have plagued college campuses across our nation; in many cases, classes were postponed or canceled.
Florida Sen. Marco Rubio says to pay back the students who didn’t partake in the chaos.
The most recent wave can largely be traced to the pro-Hamas encampment established at Columbia University.
The university administration refused outside police assistance, enabling the situation to spiral out of control until protesters stormed an academic building.
The university’s inability to adequately respond to these pro-terrorist disruptors resulted in the cancellation of in-person classes and the undergraduate commencement ceremony
U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) sent a letter to Columbia University President Minouche Shafik urging her to refund students for the loss of educational services due the university’s inability to maintain a safe environment.
“It is no secret that a Columbia education is costly. Even in an era of skyrocketing educational costs, your university’s $68,400 price tag—per year—for undergraduate tuition and fees places it squarely on the list of the most expensive colleges in the nation. Yet, despite Columbia’s extraordinary expenses, your failure to respond to illegal rioters caused Columbia undergraduates to miss three weeks of in-person education,” said Rubio.
Read: Columbia Urges Professors To Consider Canceling Final Exams, Moves Testing Remote
“I urge you not to compound damage by forcing those students who did not partake in these shameful protests that espouse terrorist views, to pay for the three weeks of education your university failed to provide,” said Rubio in his letter.
Columbia University went as far as canceling its university-wide graduating celebration due to continued pro-Palestinian protests.
Some smaller school-based ceremonies took place.
Read: Florida Senators Rubio, Scott, And Minnesota Sen. Smith Intro Bill To Address Senior Loneliness
“Based on feedback from our students, we have decided to focus attention on our Class Days and school-level graduation ceremonies, where students are honored individually alongside their peers, and to forego the university-wide ceremony scheduled for May 15,” Columbia said in a statement.
“Our students emphasized that these smaller-scale, school-based celebrations are most meaningful to them and their families,” the school noted. “They are eager to cross the stage to applause and family pride and hear from their school’s invited guest speakers.”
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