As another admit in the chat who knows others in the chat as well, I'm sad to say that
@Chemistry97 is kind of correct-- with the lack of transparency and no chance for the student to explain their side (luckily I know the truth now, but I've heard this from others who didn't at the time), this experience has made that student seem like a poor potential classmate who did something so serious that admin had to get involved (based on the wording of the message sent in the chat from the student representatives).
If this situation was "totally blown out of proportion", the lack of corrective action or, at the very least, explanation from the student representatives and administration is honestly concerning.
I know Columbia is a great school, but I've heard so many stories of the administration not being supportive for certain students, and this makes those seem like more than just a potentially disgruntled n=1 student. (
@girlynerd, I know this is likely not your experience, but seeing as how you're an M1 in the admitted students chat, I'd hazard a guess that you're not one of the students struggling with different circumstances that seem to fall through the cracks at Columbia).
I don't want to discourage anyone, but I do wish we could see some meaningful response to situations like this, rather than just reassurance on an anonymous forum...