The administration of President Donald Trump mentioned on Monday it’ll evaluate Columbia College’s federal contracts and grants over allegations of antisemitism, which it says the academic establishment has proven inaction in tackling.
Rights advocates observe rising antisemitism, Islamophobia and anti-Arab bias since U.S. ally Israel’s devastating navy assault on Gaza started after Palestinian Hamas militants’ lethal October 2023 assault.
The Justice Division mentioned a month in the past it fashioned a activity power to struggle antisemitism. The U.S. Departments of Well being and Training and the Basic Providers Administration collectively made the evaluate announcement on Monday.
“The Federal Authorities’s Process Pressure to Fight Anti-Semitism is contemplating Cease Work Orders for $51.4 million in contracts between Columbia College and the Federal Authorities,” the joint assertion mentioned.
The businesses mentioned no contracting actions had been taken but.
“The duty power may also conduct a complete evaluate of the greater than $5 billion in federal grant commitments to Columbia College.”
The businesses didn’t reply to requests for touch upon whether or not there have been related opinions over allegations of Islamophobia and anti-Arab bias.
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Columbia had no rapid remark. It beforehand mentioned it made efforts to deal with antisemitism.
COLLEGE PROTESTS
Trump has signed an government order to fight antisemitism and pledged to deport non-citizen school college students and others who took half in pro-Palestinian protests.
Columbia was on the middle of school protests through which demonstrators demanded an finish to U.S. help for Israel because of the humanitarian disaster brought on by Israel’s assault on Gaza. There have been allegations of antisemitism and Islamophobia in protests and counter-protests.
Throughout final summer time’s demonstrations across the nation, courses have been canceled, some college directors resigned and pupil protesters have been suspended and arrested
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Whereas the depth of protests has decreased in latest months, there have been some demonstrations final week in New York after the expulsion of two college students at Columbia College-affiliated Barnard School and after New York Governor Kathy Hochul ordered the removing of a Palestinian research job itemizing at Hunter School.
A 3rd pupil at Barnard School has since been expelled, this one associated to the occupation of the Hamilton Corridor constructing at Columbia final 12 months.
