Lead Columbia student negotiator suspended

Mahmoud Khalil said he woke up this morning at 7 am to receive an email, which surprised him.

“The university suspended me but it goes against the norms. I’m the lead negotiator and go in and out of the encampment. The university was very well aware of this. They offered protection for me. After 2 pm yesterday, I never went into the encampment, so I’m not sure if this is random. I’m not sure if this is targeted. I’m still waiting to hear back from the administration.”

He says he has no clue if the university has linked it with the takeover of the building last night – something Mahmoud said he had nothing to with.

“The university even reached out to me after that, even woke me up asking me what kind of demands these protesters asked me.”

He says as of now he cannot access the university or any healthcare.

“I’m not sure about my housing. Because I live in Columbia housing. I should be OK but I will just wait until the hearing that the university is offering, but I don’t know when that is.”

He says if he gets permanently suspended he will lose his US visa.

But for Mahmoud, the ends justify the means. He says as a Palestinian, he is one of “the lucky ones” and it’s “nothing compared to what people in Gaza are facing”.