Columbia University on Thursday announced that it has agreed to pay $220 million in settlement to the Trump administration over accusations that it failed to protect the Jewish students against anti-Semitism on the campus.
The university said that it will pay the settlement amount in three years. In response, the Trump administration said it will release some of the $400 million in federal grants that were frozen in March.
Additionally, the varsity will be paying $21 million to settle investigations brought by the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
The announcement came hours after Columbia University took strong action against 80 students who participated in protests against Israel’s war on Gaza.
University punishes students
The university said that it issued various punishments, including expulsions and degree revocations, against the students who took part in pro-Palestine protests.
The university’s decision to penalise the students has drawn strong criticism.
Michael Thaddeus, Professor at Columbia University said, "To mete out these two- and three-year suspensions and expulsions, that's far beyond anything that's ever been done before for a political demonstration, and it's far too draconian."
Meanwhile, the university’s newspaper, Columbia Spectator, reported that the majority of the students have received two-year suspensions. The suspended students have been asked to file an apology letter before they can return to continue their studies. However, some students have refused to do so, putting themselves at risk of getting expelled.
Notably, the varsity has also accepted a slew of demands that were put forth by the Trump administration in exchange for receiving federal grants.
Under the agreement, the university has decided to overhaul its student disciplinary process, adopt a new definition of antisemitism—which equates criticism of Israel with discrimination against Jews—ban the use of face masks, and empower 36 campus police officers with special powers to arrest students.
Describing the agreement as “an important step forward”, Columbia's acting president, Claire Shipman, said it that would allow the varsity to rebuild trust with the federal government.
Students' body slam Trump
However, the students' umbrella body, Columbia University Apartheid Divest, slammed the university. They have accused the university officials of working in collusion with the Trump administration to suspend the students.
Critics have argued that the crackdown on students is part of broader efforts to suppress pro-Palestine groups on US campuses.
Notably, the Trump administration has previously targeted dozens of educational institutions over protests against Israel's war campaign in Gaza and other issues, including transgender athletes and diversity, equity, and inclusion programmes.
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According to a think tank, the Center for American Progress, the Trump administration has gone after over 600 universities and colleges, threatening to cancel grants worth $8 billion.
Meanwhile, the student body has vowed to continue its efforts to end what it calls the "US and Columbia-backed Israeli genocide".
