A court has vacated disciplinary sanctions that Columbia University levied against pro‑Palestinian demonstrators who occupied Hamilton Hall in 2024. Students who faced expulsions, suspensions and degree revocations have had those penalties set aside pending further review. The decision underscores legal exposure for institutions that applied sweeping sanctions during campus protests and signals potential liability around due process and disciplinary procedures. College general counsels and student affairs leaders should review precedents, tighten adjudication timelines, and prepare for renewed debate over protest policy, campus safety, and academic consequences.