Columbia University announced on Friday that it would change its Middle East studies program, tighten protest rules, and revise student discipline policies to comply with demands from the Trump administration. If the university did not make these changes, it risked losing billions in federal funding.
Key Changes at Columbia
Interim President Katrina Armstrong shared the new policies in a letter, stating that Columbia would:
- Place its Middle East studies department under new supervision for at least five years.
- Ban student protests inside academic buildings.
- Increase campus security and allow officers to make arrests.
- Revise student discipline policies to handle rule violations more strictly.
- Prohibit face masks on campus unless worn for health or religious reasons.
- Appoint a senior provost to review international studies programs to ensure they are “balanced.”
Additionally, Columbia will expand its Institute for Israel and Jewish Studies and adopt a new definition of antisemitism.
Why These Changes Are Happening
The Trump administration pulled $400 million in research funding from Columbia earlier this month. Officials claimed the university failed to stop antisemitism during protests against Israel’s military actions in Gaza. To restore funding and secure future grants, Columbia had to agree to nine policy changes outlined by federal officials.
This intervention sparked criticism, with free speech advocates and faculty members accusing Trump of interfering with academic freedom. Donna Lieberman, executive director of the New York Civil Liberties Union, said Columbia’s decision set a dangerous precedent.
Government Crackdown on Universities
Columbia is not the only school under pressure. The Trump administration has:
- Launched investigations into 52 universities over their diversity and inclusion programs.
- Blocked $175 million in federal funding for the University of Pennsylvania over past participation of a transgender swimmer.
- Arrested Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil in a university-owned apartment, calling it the “first of many” deportation attempts.
- Warned other colleges that they could lose funding if they do not comply with government policies.
What’s Next?
Critics fear that Columbia’s compliance will encourage more government control over universities. Tyler Coward from the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression said:
The situation at Columbia could influence policies at universities across the U.S., shaping how schools handle protests, academic freedom, and government intervention in the future.
