The University of Columbia seems to have yielded to the demands of the Trump administration after a threat of retaining $ 400 million in federal funds.
The school published a four -page memorandum entitled “Advancing our work to combat discrimination, harassment and anti -Semitism in Columbia.” Columbia’s response is being closely observed by other schools that became inflammation points for pro-palestinian protests last year.
The Trump administration canceled subsidies and contracts worth $ 400 million to Columbia University, accusing the University of “Continuous Inaction against persistent harassment of Jewish students.” The administration He sent a letter Last week, listing nine demands that Columbia must meet before Thursday “as a previous condition for formal negotiations” regarding federal financing.
Columbia agreed to prohibit masks, one of the key demands of the Trump administration, saying in the memorandum: “Public security has determined that facial masks or facial coverage are not allowed with the purpose of hiding the identity of one in the commission of violations of university policies or state, municipal or federal laws.”
A pro-palestine demonstration is carried out on the steps of the Lowe Library on the land of Columbia University, on April 22, 2024, in New York.
David Dee Delgado/Getty Images
The university also agreed strict controls on its Department of Studies in Middle East, which will now be supervised by a new senior vice -edge that “will carry out an exhaustive review of the portfolio of programs in regional areas of the entire university, starting immediately with the Middle East.”
The memorandum promised that the new senior vice -presses would ensure that the curriculum is “comprehensive and balanced” and that the faculty represents an “intellectually diverse academic environment”, since the Trump administration tries to represent in the ideology of the left on the campus.
The University will also establish a provostial advisory committee on academic freedom and freedom of expression in charge of advising university leadership on how to protect academic freedom in Columbia.
“The members of the Committee will serve as trusted advisors, both to consult about university policies and procedures and to ensure that our decisions are consistent with our values,” Columbia said in the memorandum.
A protester in the camp established in support of the Palestinians in Gaza flies the Palestinian flag at Columbia University, on April 29, 2024, in New York.
Alex Kent/Getty images, file
Columbia will also establish a commission in charge of examining events on the campus since October 7, 2024, the anniversary of the beginning of the Israel-Ahamas War, and “presents an analysis with the underlying causes.” The Committee will create a report with recommendations to ensure that members of the Columbia community “are responsible for the actions that hinder the academic search of any individual within the community.”
The Committee will also offer recommendations for a disciplinary process.
