Columbia University gave in. Faster than many Turkish universities (!)

I am surprised to see how many American entities are giving in to rising authoritarianism. We sometimes talk about this nowadays. Even Turkish entities resisted longer. The whole federal system idea, the rule of law, etc. All should have more power to stay autonomous. Besides, a university like Columbia must have more than enough resources to maintain its reputation…

Columbia University has agreed to meet several demands made by the Trump administration in an effort to restore its $400 million in federal funding. The funding was initially revoked due to allegations of antisemitic harassment on campus. The university’s concessions include:

• Mask Ban: Implementing a ban on face coverings intended to conceal identities, though exceptions are made for religious or medical reasons46.

• Enhanced Security: Hiring 36 special campus police officers with the authority to remove or arrest individuals from campus46.

• Protest Regulations: Requiring protesters to present university IDs upon request and banning protests inside or immediately outside academic facilities6.

• Academic Oversight: Appointing a new senior vice provost to oversee the Middle Eastern, South Asian, and African Studies department, which is seen as a significant concession to the administration’s request for academic oversight57.

These actions have been criticized for potentially undermining academic freedom and setting a precedent for government intervention in university operations135. Despite these concessions, there is no guarantee that the federal funding will be reinstated, as compliance is merely a precondition for formal negotiations12.