Returning Columbia University students might face alterations in campus life due to recently proposed policies.
Rewritten Article:
Stepping into a new semester, Columbia University students find themselves in a changed campus environment, following policy adjustments instated by the university during their spring break, seemingly bowing to the Trump administration's demands for the release of $400 million in federal funding.
On Friday, Columbia University announced several changes requested by the Trump administration to overhaul its disciplinary policies, severely restrict protests, outlaw masks, impose sanctions on student groups in violation, promptly assess its Middle East studies programs and admissions.
Caught in the crosshairs of the Trump administration, cracking down on campus protests and immigration, questions swirl about how these announced changes will actually unfold as students return, with less than two months remaining in the school year and tensions once again escalating in Gaza.
Columbia became the first college to experience funding slashed as part of President Donald Trump's threats to cut federal money to colleges perceived as tolerating antisemitism amid the Israel-Hamas conflict that started in October 2023.
The university unequivocally stated it would not tolerate antisemitism.
The previous academic year saw widespread campus unrest, including pro-Palestinian protests, counterprotests, building takeovers, arrests, and toned-down graduation ceremonies, making Columbia the epicenter of nationwide demonstrations.
Shubhanjana Das, a student leader in the master's program at Columbia Journalism School, told CNN the university's dispute with the Trump administration over federal funds is not merely about the money but the "signals it sends to education at large in the country, to higher education, to elite universities like these."
"All of us are quite aware that because of the status that Columbia University has in American education, the attack isn't singular. We're going to see a ripple effect," said Das.
Das explained, as Columbia has been at the heart of pro-Palestinian protests, "... to say that it's essentially going to ban any protest that it thinks is antisemitic/pro-Palestine - I guess we're mixing up those words now - there's going to be armed officers with the power to arrest people. We don't even know how they're going to carry out these things."
The Trump administration directed immigration officers to arrest Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia graduate, and prominent Palestinian activist, on March 8, who played a significant role in protests against the Israel-Hamas war on campus last year and believes he was targeted for his beliefs.
Khalil is a permanent legal resident married to an American citizen, but his green card has been revoked. He is challenging his detention in court, and a federal judge has temporarily blocked his deportation. He's been in ICE custody for three weeks and has not been charged with any crime.
In a new court filing arguing against Khalil's release, Justice Department lawyers accuse the activist of immigration fraud, alleging he failed to disclose both his membership in the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) and his previous employment with the Syrian office of the British Embassy in Beirut. The DOJ argues "misrepresentations in this context are not protected speech."
It's the first time the government has pointed to specific alleged violations by Khalil. His attorney Baher Azmy told CNN he does not think the claims undermine their case for release. "It's a recognition that the initial charges are unsustainable... So they're going with a theory that they must think is more legally defensible," Azmy said.
Khalil's arrest has contributed to an environment of uncertainty, fear, stress, and frustration, Das described. "One could literally see the number of students decreasing on campus," she added.
Here's a glimpse into how campus life could change for students as they return and throughout the remaining weeks:
Protests effectively prohibited on campus
The new rules effectively outlaw protests within and close to academic buildings, and all demonstration activities are subject to the university's antidiscrimination and anti-harassment policies.
The university hired 36 new campus police officers specifically trained to handle protests, with the authority to remove or arrest protesters as part of the changes. Collaboration with the New York Police Department will continue as necessary.
Anyone who participates in protests or demonstrations must reveal their university ID and is banned from donning face coverings for concealing identity, per the university's statement released Friday.
CNN reached out to Columbia to ask about identifying methods for students and details on how curriculum will be reviewed, but university spokesperson Matthew Vuono declined to comment beyond the materials shared.
A Jewish student at Columbia University told CNN the policy changes have fostered a "climate of fear" as they return to classes to complete the school year.
"We're going to be walking around campus knowing that at any moment, really, we could be harassed by one of these new security officers they're hiring," the student explained.
The student, a lead organizer for Columbia University Jews for Ceasefire, wished to remain anonymous due to safety and privacy concerns.
"...Or perhaps even by a police officer in certain cases, for simply sharing our viewpoints, which is a gross violation of free speech," the student added, asserting the mask ban is significant "due to its clear intention of surveilling students."
The office of the provost will have new authority to address disciplinary action against students involved in protests, although the university president retains the final decision on appeals.
The implementation of new antidiscrimination policies will permit the university to impose sanctions against student groups for violations of their policy. The university's approach and relevant policies "will incorporate the definition of antisemitism recommended by Columbia's Antisemitism Taskforce in August 2024."
This definition reads, in part, "Antisemitism is prejudice, discrimination, hate, or violence directed at Jews, including Jewish Israelis." It also includes holocaust denial, and "targeting Jews or Israelis for violence or celebrating violence against them."
The task force's report included testimony from "hundreds" of Jewish and Israeli students, finding what it considered a pattern of behavior toward Jewish and Israeli students that is troubling and violates central values of the university.
Both Jewish and Muslim students have reported an increase in hate speech and harassment on campus.
Jewish students at Columbia were among others from major universities who testified to lawmakers last year about feeling unsafe on campus amid a surge in antisemitism. They described hearing violent chants on campus and complained administrators are not doing enough to combat antisemitism, a previous CNN report stated.
The anonymous Jewish student accused the Trump administration of "trying to use Jewish students to enforce its authoritarian anti-free speech agenda and essentially have us take the blame for it."
"They're saying this is for Jewish safety. It's not. It doesn't make anyone safer, and certainly not Jews," the student continued.
Karl H. Jacoby, a professor of American history at the university, argued the Trump administration's move to revoke grants violated the law, and its demands to make changes to curriculum represent government overreach.
"Now that this sort of federal takeover has been sanctioned by the Columbia administration, there is every reason to believe that Trump will use this same sort of pressure ... to constrain other units at Columbia that Trump finds inconvenient, be it our Institute for the Study of Sexuality and Gender or our Earth Institute, which is a leading center for investigating climate change," Jacoby stated.
The US House of Representatives Committee on Education and Workforce declared, following the policy changes, "Columbia 'FOLDS' to the Trump admin's demands to protect Jewish students and faculty."
"School administrators failed to hold pro-terror mobs accountable for rampant antisemitism. Now, masks are banned during protests and safety measures are increasing. Republicans and the Trump admin are stopping it," the post reads.
Jack Lewis Snyder, a professor of international relations at the university, argues the university has not made concessions.
"Columbia's response to the Trump administration's demands can be carried out in a way that is consistent with our rules. That's what I expect will happen," Snyder told CNN. "We'll see whether the Trump administration will find that acceptable."
An 'immediate' review of Middle East studies
The university stated an "immediate" review of Middle East studies will be overseen by a newly appointed senior vice provost, enhancing intellectual diversity among faculty to ensure fairness in Middle East studies and committing to "institutional neutrality" university-wide.
It's unclear what the university means by "fairness" or how quickly the curriculum review will be completed, and the spokesperson declined to comment further.
A new university judicial board will be overseen by the office of the provost to determine appropriate disciplinary actions.
The university's plans, detailed in a document provided to the Trump administration, said it will apply "consistent, rigorous, and effective disciplinary actions," citing instances of Hamilton Hall occupations leading to dozens of arrests.
"Disciplinary proceedings against other encampment participants are ongoing," the document says. It also pledged a review of admissions policies, noting admissions of Jewish and Black students have been declining.
The university's board of trustees endorsed the reforms in a letter to Columbia's academic community, stating they had met with federal agencies and discussed changes and decisions the school has made.
The letter, shared with CNN on Saturday, signals the university's unity behind the controversial changes. The trustees wrote they believe the changes align with the school's values and mission.
"Members of our community and external stakeholders have raised concerns about a multitude of issues, such as antisemitism, discrimination, harassment, and bias," the trustees wrote.
Whether the university's plans will lead to the release of the $400 million in funding remains unclear. CNN reached out to the White House for comment.
The anonymous Jewish student expressed fears that "our university is working less for us and more for the Trump administration." While they chose the school seeking a place of real learning and inquiry, the student said the campus is "becoming a place of surveillance and of authoritarianism."
Students are afraid to express their viewpoints, attend class, and protest due to the fear it could be used against them legally or through student disciplinary measures, the student claimed.
Das argued the "suppression of free speech" on campus is "targeting pro-Palestine expression of any sort, any shape or form." She added, "That's why Columbia is such an easy target, because we started this movement across educational institutions in the world, let alone America."
Das stated the lack of specific detail from the university on rolling out the policy changes has further fueled the fear of what they will look like on campus.
"I don't see how the spring is going to be peaceful at all for the students, for us," Das said.
Originally written by: Mira Wassef, Holmes Lyons, and Oren Liebermann, CNN
Enrichment Insights:
- In response to the Trump administration's demands, Columbia University implemented policy changes to restore $400 million in federal funding, affecting disciplinary processes, protests, masks, admission policies, middle eastern studies, and security.
- The changes have sparked controversy and debate among students, faculty, and academic communities, with some expressing concerns that the policy changes threaten academic freedom, set a dangerous precedent for government interference in academic affairs, and potentially violate constitutional rights.
- The case of arrested pro-Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil has fueled an environment of fear, uncertainty, and frustration on the campus.
- Columbia's self-appointed task force published a report in August 2024, detailing allegations of antisemitism and patterns of behavior towards Jewish and Israeli students that violates core values of the university.
- The university's plans to restore fairness and neutrality in middle eastern studies and combat discrimination have been met with mixed reactions and skepticism from academic and student communities.
- The university, Columbia, will retain its stance against antisemitism as it moves forward in the 2023 academic year, following policy changes requested by the Trump administration.
- The new policies instated by Columbia University are expected to misrepresentations to student groups that violate the university's antidiscrimination policies, specifically those that critique Israel or express pro-Palestinian sentiments.
- Students at Columbia, like Shubhanjana Das, worry that the university's collaboration with immigration authorities, such as the arrest of Mahmoud Khalil, sets a precedent for future restrictions on free speech and protests, resulting in a climate of fear and uncertainty on campus.
