Columbia University makes policy changes in dispute over federal funding

Columbia University has announced a series of new policies following President Trump’s revocation of $400 million in federal funding over campus protests.

Columbia University has announced a series of new policies following President Trump’s revocation of $400 million in federal funding over campus protests. Among the changes are a review of admissions policies, making it easier to report harassment, tightening rules about the location of protests, prohibiting masks at protests, hiring 36 additional campus police officers with new arrest powers and giving the office of the provost more authority to deal with disciplinary action against students involved in protests. The university is also reviewing its curriculum, beginning with courses about the Middle East. The last academic year saw widespread campus unrest, including pro-Palestinian protests and encampments, counterprotests, building takeovers, arrests and scaled-back graduation ceremonies. Columbia became the epicenter of the nationwide demonstrations. “We have worked hard to address the legitimate concerns raised both from within and without our Columbia community, including by our regulators, with respect to the discrimination, harassment, and antisemitic acts our Jewish community has faced in the wake of October 7, 2023,” reads the statement from the office of the university’s interim president Dr. Katrina Armstrong. Under the new rules, all individuals who engage in protests or demonstrations must, when asked, show their university ID and are banned from wearing face coverings for the purpose of “concealing one’s identity,” according to the document.