Columbia University reached a $200 million settlement with the Trump administration concerning federal antisemitism investigations and employment discrimination claims. The university accepted these terms, recognizing antisemitism as a significant threat necessitating federal oversight. In response to pressure from the administration, Columbia hired additional campus police officers and tightened campus protest regulations. While this path may appear to minimize conflict in the short term, it poses significant risks to academic freedom and oversight of Middle Eastern studies, with ongoing monitoring from an external party mandated by the settlement.
"The war between Donald Trump and elite American universities is a contest of wills that some of these schools seem committed to losing."
"Columbia will pay $200 million to the government to end specious federal antisemitism investigations and an additional $21 million to settle employment-discrimination claims."
"Columbia has already strained to satiate Trump by hiring three dozen campus police officers who have the power to arrest students."
"Academic freedom is severely threatened with a provost hanging over Middle Eastern studies and another monitor constantly reporting back to Trump on the 'progress' of the settlement."
Collection
[
|
...
]