Columbia University seems to have given in to the requests of the Trump administration after a threat of retaining $ 400 million in federal funds.
The school has published a four -page memo entitled “To advance our work to fight against discrimination, harassment and anti -Semitism in Columbia”. Columbia’s response is closely monitored by other schools that have become flash points for pro-Palestinian demonstrations last year.
The Trump administration has canceled $ 400 million in subsidies and contracts for the University of Columbia, accusing the university of “continuous inaction in the face of persistent harassment of Jewish students”. Administration sent a letter Last week, listing Nine Columbia requests must comply with Thursday “as a prerequisite for official negotiations” concerning federal funding.
Columbia has agreed to prohibit masks, one of the main requests of the Trump administration, claiming that in the note: “Public security has determined that masks opposite or face covers are not allowed to hide its identity in the Commission on violations of university policies or state, municipal or federal laws.”
A pro-Palestine rally takes place at the stages of the Lowe library in the field of Columbia University, April 22, 2024, in New York.
David Dee Delgado / Getty Images
The University has also agreed to stricter controls in its Middle East Study department, which will now be supervised by a new main vice-pre-premise which “will carry out an in-depth examination of the program portfolio in the regional areas of the university, immediately from the Middle East”.
The memo has promised that the new main vice-premise would ensure that the study program is “complete and balanced” and that the faculty represents an “intellectually diverse academic environment” while the Trump administration tries to repair the ideology on the left on the campus.
The University will also establish a provostial advisory committee on academic freedom and freedom of expression responsible for advising university leadership on how to protect academic freedom in Columbia.
“Committee members will serve as trusted advisers, both to consult university policies and procedures and to guarantee that our decisions are in accordance with our values,” said Columbia in memo.
A protester at the camp established in support of the Palestinians in Gaza Waves The Palestinian Flag of Columbia University, April 29, 2024, in New York.
Images Alex Kent / Getty, file
Columbia will also establish a commission responsible for examining the events on the campus since October 7, 2024 – the anniversary of the beginning of the War of Israel -Hamas – and “present an analysis with the underlying causes”. The Committee will create a relationship with recommendations to ensure that members of the Columbia community “are held responsible for actions which hamper the academic prosecution of any person within the community”.
The committee will also make recommendations for a disciplinary process.
