Student studying in Butler Library claims he was suspended despite not participating in protests

A student who says he complied with Columbia University Public Safety during the occupation of Butler Library on May 7th has received a “Notice of Interim Suspension” from the University. 

Nathaniel Wirth, a senior at Columbia University,  says he was studying in the third floor reading room before protests broke out and was not involved. Despite this, Wirth received a citation of suspension from the rules administrator at the University after showing his campus ID to public safety officials while exiting the building. 

“I asked public safety if I had to leave 5 minutes before the protests really started and they said no, so I sat back down to do work,” Wirth said. 

Deciding the chanting had made it unproductive to stay, Wirth says he left a few minutes later. When campus Safety asked him to show his ID before exiting. Wirth claims he even joked with the public safety officer before exiting the library. 

“He asked me how I was studying with all of the noise,” Wirth said. “I told him I turned my techno music up on my headphones.” 

The next day, Wirth received an electronic letter from the Rules of University Conduct board. Uptown Radio has reviewed a copy.

“It has been alleged that on May 7, 2025, in the afternoon, you participated in a

disruptive protest in 301 Butler Library,” the letter read. “Public Safety has identified you to the Rules Administrator as one of the individuals participating in this activity. Given the actions that

Public Safety has identified you to be a part of, this activity can reasonably be construed to

constitute a demonstration and thus the Rules apply.”

Wirth says he spoke to a group of about ten students who also received the suspension, without participating in the protests. To appeal, Wirth submitted multiple videos he took of the protests around him, which he believes proves he was not an active participant. 

Acting President Claire Shipman sent a message to the campus community early Thursday morning regarding the protests. 

“Let me be clear, what happened today, what I witnessed, was utterly unacceptable,” Shipman said in a pre-recorded video. “Violence and vandalism, hijacking a library—none of that has any place on our campus. These aren’t Columbia’s values.”

Wirth’s suspension comes one day before the University’s start of final exams. Wirth’s first exam is on Monday, but he was advised by his academic advisor that it’s unlikely the issue will be resolved by then. 

This is a developing story.