U.S. President Donald Trump has now turned his attention to Columbia University. Under his pressure, the university has agreed to place its Middle East Studies department under new supervision and revise student disciplinary policies. According to a statement by interim President Katrina Armstrong, Columbia University has adopted a new definition of antisemitism and plans to increase staff at the Institute for Israel and Jewish Studies.
However, some faculty members have criticized this move, claiming it suppresses free speech. The New York Civil Liberties Union’s Executive Director, Donna Lieberman, stated that the university has succumbed to Trump’s pressure, which threatens academic freedom nationwide. Earlier this month, the Trump administration condemned the university’s protests against Israel’s military actions in Gaza and subsequently withdrew research grants and funding, leading to increased pressure for institutional changes.
Recently, Trump’s administration has intensified its scrutiny of Columbia University. On March 8, federal immigration officials arrested Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil, a legal permanent resident, from a university apartment. Following this, several students participated in protests, raising suspicions that the university was shielding them, prompting a Justice Department investigation. Trump has also warned universities that their budgets could be cut if they do not align with his administration’s agenda.
