Cornell suspends four students over Pro-Palestine protest, igniting free speech controversy.

ITHACA, N.Y. (Diya TV) — Cornell University has suspended four students, including international graduate student Momodou Taal, for participating in a pro-Palestinian protest that interrupted a campus career fair. The suspensions, which take effect immediately, are a three-year persona non grata status, excluding the students from campus for three years.

The protest was held on September 18, when more than 100 protesters, organized by the Cornell Coalition of Mutual Liberation, broke through university police lines to gain access to the Statler Hotel, effectively closing down the career fair. The activists sought to prevent the recruitment of students by defense contractor Boeing and L3Harris, charging that they were complicit in “genocide” because of their weapons production.

The disciplinary actions of the university have caused concerns regarding the possible deportation of Taal, a British citizen since his suspension puts his F-1 visa status at risk. Taal’s case has attracted global attention, with activists claiming that the actions of the university essentially constitute deportation for his activism.

Interim Provost John Siliciano subsequently told Taal that he would not be suspended and could stay enrolled, thus keeping his visa status. Nevertheless, the three-year campus ban still holds for all four students, effectively excluding them from university grounds for this duration.

These disciplinary measures have also generated arguments over free speech and the repercussions of student activism on campus. The suspended students’ defenders point out that the university’s actions repress authentic protest and restrict free expression. University officials, on the other hand, affirm that the steps are essential in maintaining campus security and order and stress that the protest was an invasion using force and disruption of university activities.

The Cornell incident is only one aspect of a larger national debate regarding balancing campus activism with institutional policy, particularly for international students whose visa status can be impacted by disciplinary action.