Last year, Columbia became a leader in the pro-Palestinian student movement. [Brooke Anderson/TNA]
Columbia University announced on Friday that it would implement new student conduct policies, bowing to pressure from the White House after the Trump administration threatened to withhold $400 million in federal funding.
The move comes amid escalating tensions over campus protests related to Israel’s war on Gaza, which has killed at least 61,700 people – mostly women and children.
The university has faced mounting political pressure as pro-Palestinian encampments spread to campuses nation-wide, placing Columbia at the heart of the growing movement.
The move comes as Trump is cracking down on higher education in general, on Friday ordering the dismantling of the Department of Education, which includes programmes to investigate antisemitism, one of the main reasons give for crackdown on pro-Palestinian activists.Â
The new rules include a ban on face masks during demonstrations, mandatory ID checks for protests, and the hiring of additional security officers authorized to remove or arrest students.
“It’s a sad day because the Columbia administration was blackmailed by the US administration,” David Frank, a professor of rhetoric and political communication told The New Arab. “The function of higher education is to sponsor free inquiry.”
Columbia University has emerged as a focal point in the global student protest movement, with pro-Palestinian encampments spreading across campuses worldwide. Its status as a prominent Ivy League institution in New York City has placed it at the centre of political debate.
In a letter to students, Interim President Katrina Armstrong addressed the university’s decision, saying it reflected “the substantive work we’ve been doing over the last academic year to advance our mission, ensure uninterrupted academic activities, and make every student, faculty, and staff member safe and welcome on our campus.”
Armstrong assumed the role last year following the resignation of Nemat Minouche Shafik, who stepped down amid mounting tensions between students, the university administration, and politicians.
Despite numerous developments at Columbia over the past 18 months, critics have described the new policies as a significant blow to free speech.
“Endorsing far-right authoritarian crackdowns by an administration filled with Christian Nationalists and white supremacists will not keep Jews safe,” said Jonah Rubin, a campus organising manager with Jewish Voice for Peace.
“Jews have always thrived in communities that embrace free inquiry, uphold the rights of minority groups, welcome immigrants, and protect basic civil rights.”
He urged universities to resist political pressure.
“We need the higher education sector to stand up for its basic mission, uphold its stated values, and defend its community members who are under attack by a state bent on dismantling any form of dissent.”
While Columbia’s decision has faced widespread criticism, some acknowledge the difficult position the university was in.
“I can hardly blame the Columbia administration for yielding to the pressure,” said Frank.
“They desperately need funds for researching cancer and other social ills, and they were making a trade-off. This is another step in the direction of authoritarian rule.”
