IF You don't like it here go back to your country. WE Don't need more freeloading American hating dorks here. The Trump administration moved Friday to cancel $400 million in grants and contracts to Columbia University, citing "the school's continued inaction in the face of persistent harassment of Jewish students."
"Since October 7, Jewish students have faced relentless violence, intimidation, and antisemitic harassment on their campuses only to be ignored by those who are supposed to protect them," Secretary of Education Linda McMahon said. "Universities must comply with all federal anti discrimination laws if they are going to receive federal funding. For too long, Columbia has abandoned that obligation to Jewish students studying on its campus. Today, we demonstrate to Columbia and other universities that we will not tolerate their appalling inaction any longer."
"We are reviewing the announcement from the federal agencies and pledge to work with the federal government to restore Columbia's federal funding. We take Columbia's legal obligations seriously and understand how serious this announcement is and are committed to combating antisemitism and ensuring the safety and well being of our students, faculty, and staff," a Columbia University spokesperson said. Columbia students reacted to the news. "If those are the necessary steps needed to incentivize the school to make a positive step for Jewish students, that's what needs to be done," student Maya Cukieman said.
"Can these students stand up for what they believe in without compromising their future? Not really," student Wesley Epps said. "President Armstrong and the Columbia Board of Trustees must understand that their continued inaction on support for terror and antisemitism on campus have serious consequences. While initial steps have been taken to address these issues, they are broadly insufficient.
"Since October 7, Jewish students have faced relentless violence, intimidation, and antisemitic harassment on their campuses only to be ignored by those who are supposed to protect them," Secretary of Education Linda McMahon said. "Universities must comply with all federal anti discrimination laws if they are going to receive federal funding. For too long, Columbia has abandoned that obligation to Jewish students studying on its campus. Today, we demonstrate to Columbia and other universities that we will not tolerate their appalling inaction any longer."
"We are reviewing the announcement from the federal agencies and pledge to work with the federal government to restore Columbia's federal funding. We take Columbia's legal obligations seriously and understand how serious this announcement is and are committed to combating antisemitism and ensuring the safety and well being of our students, faculty, and staff," a Columbia University spokesperson said. Columbia students reacted to the news. "If those are the necessary steps needed to incentivize the school to make a positive step for Jewish students, that's what needs to be done," student Maya Cukieman said.
"Can these students stand up for what they believe in without compromising their future? Not really," student Wesley Epps said. "President Armstrong and the Columbia Board of Trustees must understand that their continued inaction on support for terror and antisemitism on campus have serious consequences. While initial steps have been taken to address these issues, they are broadly insufficient.
This move by the federal government hurts all of us, including numerous Jewish graduate students and workers at Columbia who are supported by federal funding. We hope that Columbia responds accordingly in order to prevent further cuts," student group Columbia Jewish & Israeli Students said in a statement.
"This move is the latest escalation by the Trump administration to coerce colleges and universities into censoring student speech and advocacy that isn't MAGA-approved, like criticizing Israel or supporting Palestinian rights. It is unconstitutional and unprecedented, but it is entirely consistent with Trump's long-held desire to silence views with which he disagrees and clamp down on protest,"
"This move is the latest escalation by the Trump administration to coerce colleges and universities into censoring student speech and advocacy that isn't MAGA-approved, like criticizing Israel or supporting Palestinian rights. It is unconstitutional and unprecedented, but it is entirely consistent with Trump's long-held desire to silence views with which he disagrees and clamp down on protest,"
New York Civil Liberties Union executive director Donna Lieberman said. "Protected political speech should not be a basis of punishment, and Title VI must be applied consistently with the First Amendment. With little regard for the Constitution and case law, it is no surprise that the Trump administration prefers to see what it can get away with."
"Withdrawing millions of dollars in grants, often funding medical research, to essentially punish free speech is unconstitutional, and i think ineffective way to achieve the important goal of stopping antisemitsm," said First Amendment attorney Ian Rosenberg. Earlier this week, President Trump threatened to pull funding from schools that allowed what he called "illegal protests."
"All Federal Funding will STOP for any College, School, or University that allows illegal protests," Mr. Trump posted on social media Tuesday morning. "Agitators will be imprisoned/or permanently sent back to the country from which they came. American students will be permanently expelled or, depending on on the crime, arrested. NO MASKS!"
Mr. Trump's statement on Tuesday came on the heels of the Department of Education, Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. General Services Administration announcing a comprehensive review of Columbia's federal contracts.
"Withdrawing millions of dollars in grants, often funding medical research, to essentially punish free speech is unconstitutional, and i think ineffective way to achieve the important goal of stopping antisemitsm," said First Amendment attorney Ian Rosenberg. Earlier this week, President Trump threatened to pull funding from schools that allowed what he called "illegal protests."
"All Federal Funding will STOP for any College, School, or University that allows illegal protests," Mr. Trump posted on social media Tuesday morning. "Agitators will be imprisoned/or permanently sent back to the country from which they came. American students will be permanently expelled or, depending on on the crime, arrested. NO MASKS!"
Mr. Trump's statement on Tuesday came on the heels of the Department of Education, Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. General Services Administration announcing a comprehensive review of Columbia's federal contracts.
The administration cited potential violations to Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. Columbia has more than $5 billion in federal grant commitments. "This is only the beginning," said Leo Terrell, head of the DOJ Task Force to Combat Antisemitism. "Cancelling these taxpayer funds is our strongest signal yet that the federal government is not going to be party to an educational institution like Columbia that does not protect Jewish students and staff." Mr. Trump's statement also raised questions about what constitutes an illegal protest.
