President Donald Trump has signed an executive order targeting antisemitism, specifically on college campuses, calling for action against discrimination, vandalism, and violence. The order comes in response to what the administration describes as an “unprecedented wave” of harassment. The government is demanding Columbia University to make changes to its disciplinary policies and admissions following the cancellation of $400 million in federal funds due to the school’s failure to combat antisemitism. The university must respond to the government’s demands by March 20 to discuss the possibility of restoring federal funding. The demands include adopting a formal definition of antisemitism, banning masks used for intimidation, reorganizing certain academic departments, enforcing disciplinary actions against pro-Palestinian student protesters, and strengthening law enforcement on campus.
In addition to the government’s demands, Columbia University announced sanctions for students involved in pro-Palestinian protests that took place in 2024. Punishments included multi-year suspensions, temporary degree revocations, and expulsions for those who occupied a campus building during the demonstrations. The university’s actions come amidst a larger movement demanding divestment from Israeli interests and an end to U.S. military assistance to Israel. The protests were sparked by the Israel-Hamas conflict in 2023 and have continued to advocate for Palestinian rights. The recent detention of a Palestinian graduate student and activist at Columbia, Mahmoud Khalil, has also fueled these demonstrations.
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