Student protesters defy university deadline to disband camp or face suspension

A tent encampment has been set up inside the campus of Columbia University (Andres Kudacki/AP)

Colleges around the US have implored pro-Palestinian student protesters to clear out tent encampments with rising levels of urgency, including an ultimatum from Columbia University for students to sign a form and leave the encampment by the afternoon or face suspension.

Columbia activists defied the 2pm deadline with chants, clapping and drumming from the encampment of more than 300 people. No officials appeared to enter the encampment, with at least 120 tents staying up as the deadline passed.