There were fierce demonstrations against Israel at Columbia University last year.
New York: Columbia University on Friday agreed to keep its Middle East Studies Department under new supervision and make changes in its rules for protests and student discipline. In this way, the university has bent in front of the pressure of Trump administration that said that either he should implement change or be ready to lose billions of dollars. According to a letter published on Friday by interim president Katrina Armstrong, the university will also adopt a new definition of Jewish and will expand the ‘intellectual diversity’ by increasing the number of employees in its Israeli and Jewish Studies Institute.
‘Educational freedom and campus expression threats’
This step of the university did not like some teachers and free speech groups and they have condemned it. All of them accused the university of bowing to the pressure of President Donald Trump. Donna Laborman, Executive Director, New York Civil Liberty Union, said in a statement, “The surrender of Colombia University threatens educational freedom and campus expression across the country.” Earlier this month, the Trump administration withdrew $ 400 million (about Rs 3500 crore) from research grants and other funds for the university’s way of dealing with protests against Israeli military operations in Gaza.
Which new conditions have been accepted by Columbia University?
In its response on Friday, Armstrong indicated that the Columbia University is ready to implement almost all the reforms suggested by the Trump administration. According to the order, the university will now appoint new public security personnel and give them the right to arrest them in the campus. At the same time, students will be prevented from protesting in educational buildings and they will be taught the lesson to stay in discipline. Students will no longer be allowed to wear face masks on the campus’ for the purpose of ‘hiding their identity’. However, this rule will not apply to people wearing masks due to health or religious reasons.
Why did the administration put pressure on the university?
The Trump administration has repeatedly accused Columbia University that anti-Jewish spirit was allowed to spread in protests against Israel. These protests started from Colombia last year and spread to other universities. Armstrong said in its letter that the university has worked hard to overcome the serious concerns of discrimination and harassment made by the Jewish community. He also said that it is difficult to understand the way Columbia and his people are shown. He said, “Yes, we have challenges, but they do not define us.”
Other universities are also in danger
The Trump administration had increased its attacks on Columbia University in recent times. On 8 March, federal immigration officials arrested a prominent Palestinian worker and legal permanent resident named Mahmud Khalil in his university apartment. Trump described it as ‘the first of many’ exile attempts. Officials of the Department of Justice are also investigating whether Columbia University had hidden the students involved in the demonstrations to protect them from the law. Trump has warned Columbia as well as other universities that if they do not adopt their agenda, their budget can be cut. (AP)
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