NEW YORK – In response to reports that Columbia
University is nearing a deal with the federal government to restore nearly $400
million in frozen funding, J. Philip
Rosen, Chair of the World Jewish Congress – American Section, issued the
following statement:
“Freezing Columbia’s funding was a bold and necessary move. It showed
this administration was willing to act where others wouldn’t. It put elite
universities on notice.
“But the deal now being reported doesn’t meet the moment. Columbia
would regain access to taxpayer dollars in exchange for internal reviews and
limited data disclosures — while avoiding the very reforms that give an
agreement teeth. There’s no independent oversight. No consent decree. No
changes to the university senate that failed to discipline campus agitators. No
requirement that Columbia’s next president be selected through a politically
balanced process.
“That’s not accountability. That’s a soft
exit.
“Columbia didn’t just look the other way. It protected faculty who
encouraged antisemitism and allowed Jewish students to be harassed out of
classrooms. It canceled classes rather than enforce discipline. If this ends
with a few spreadsheets and no structural change, the message is clear: wait
long enough, say the right things, and Washington will blink.
“And universities, like Harvard and Cornell, are watching. So are
their counterparts abroad — where Jewish students face threats of extreme
violence, and where U.S. action sets the tone. A weak deal here becomes a
blueprint.
“The president made the hard call. He used leverage no one else had
the courage to use. But follow-through matters. This agreement sets the
precedent. We urge the administration to hold the line and ensure the final
deal reflects the strength that brought us to this point.”
About the World Jewish Congress
The World Jewish Congress (WJC) is the international organization representing Jewish communities in 100 countries to governments, parliaments and international organizations.