Columbia University is in the spotlight after the Trump administration announced that it would pull $400 million in federal funding due to the institution’s alleged failure to adequately combat antisemitism on campus. This decision comes in the wake of disciplinary actions taken by the university against students who participated in a pro-Palestinian protest last spring, during which they occupied Hamilton Hall.
Following these protests tied to the ongoing conflicts in Gaza, Columbia’s Judicial Board (UJB) sanctioned dozens of students with measures ranging from multi-year suspensions to permanent expulsions. A university-wide email indicated that these sanctions are part of a broader strategy to enforce campus policies and improve disciplinary measures. Columbia reiterated its commitment to its rules and policies, emphasizing the supervision of returning suspended students by the University Life Office.
In tandem with these developments, Mahmoud Khalil, a campus activist linked to the protests, was detained by federal immigration authorities, raising further questions about the limits of free speech on college campuses and the implications for US permanent residents facing deportation. The Trump administration has consistently argued that activists like Khalil support Hamas, a group classified as a terrorist organization in the US, and has suggested that universities that allow such protests should face funding cuts.
Trump’s recent rhetoric underscores a growing concern among conservative groups about the rise of antisemitism on campus, positioning the administration’s funding cuts as both a disciplinary action and a means of ensuring educational institutions uphold certain ideological standards. This saga at Columbia reflects a broader national conversation regarding the intersection of academic freedom, activism, and institutional accountability. The actions taken against the students, especially in light of the funding cuts, signal a tense atmosphere for free speech, particularly regarding international political issues.