Columbia, Ohio State Face New Federal Oversight

Columbia University has agreed to a $200 million settlement with the Trump administration, exchanging sweeping reforms on admissions, diversity, campus protests, and oversight for the restoration of federal funding after being accused of failing to address antisemitism during pro-Palestinian protests. The agreement requires Columbia to share admissions and ethnicity data with federal authorities, appoint an independent monitor, and enforce stricter protest policies, including reporting international students involved in demonstrations to immigration authorities. Critics, including Columbia law professors and national education leaders, argue the deal was coercive, lacked due process, and sets a precedent for increased federal intervention in higher education. The agreement marks a shift away from Columbia's previous commitment to freedom of expression and has raised concerns about university autonomy. Meanwhile, faculty at Ohio State University have also voiced concerns, criticizing their administration for inadequate protection of academic freedom and student rights amid similar federal pressures. These developments highlight escalating tensions between elite universities and the federal government over campus governance, free speech, and protest rights.