Columbia University has agreed to new policy changes after the Trump administration threatened to withdraw $400 million in federal funding over concerns about antisemitism on campus.
Key Changes Implemented
- Department Oversight: The Middle Eastern, South Asian, and African Studies department will be placed under new supervision for at least five years.
- Protest Regulations: New rules ban face masks at protests (except for health or religious reasons), require demonstrators to identify themselves, and grant security officers more authority to intervene.
- Academic Reforms: Columbia will expand its Israel and Jewish Studies Institute and redefine its policies on antisemitism.
Controversy and Reactions
These measures follow accusations that recent student protests against Israel’s military actions in Gaza were antisemitic. Critics argue the changes threaten academic freedom and set a dangerous precedent for federal intervention in higher education.
As other universities face similar scrutiny, Columbia’s decision signals a shift in how institutions navigate government pressure on campus policies.
