The Journal. Trump's College Crackdown
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Mar 24, 2025 
Douglas Belkin, a WSJ reporter specializing in higher education, delves into Columbia University’s significant concession to President Trump, triggering a $400 million funding crisis. He discusses the delicate balance between financial support and academic freedom, alongside increasing political pressures on campus. The conversation highlights rising tensions from protests related to the Israel-Hamas conflict, worries about anti-Semitism, and the chilling impact on student activism. Belkin explains how these developments reflect broader trends affecting universities nationwide.
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Federal Funding and Leverage
- Columbia University, reliant on federal funding, faced an ultimatum from the Trump administration: address student protests or lose funding.
- This situation highlights the federal government's significant leverage over universities.
Columbia Protests and Backlash
- Protests at Columbia University over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict led to campus unrest and criticism from conservatives, including Donald Trump.
- Some Jewish students felt unsafe due to the protests, prompting a rabbi to advise them to stay off campus.
Trump's Campaign Promise
- Trump campaigned on the idea that elite universities are controlled by left-wing ideologues and promised to cut federal funding to combat this.
- Trump's ultimatum to Columbia is seen as fulfilling this campaign promise.