Columbia to Regain Funding After Meeting Demands

Columbia University has agreed to nearly all demands from the Trump administration to regain $400 million in federal funding withdrawn due to concerns about antisemitism linked to pro-Palestinian protests. The university will implement reforms including banning face masks during protests, expanding campus police powers, and placing the Middle East Studies department under new supervision. Columbia will also adopt a new definition of antisemitism and increase staffing at its Institute for Israel and Jewish Studies to promote intellectual diversity. These changes follow the administration's accusation that Columbia failed to protect Jewish students and demanded nine specific reforms. The decision has sparked criticism from faculty and free speech advocates, who argue that these measures infringe on academic freedom. Despite the controversy, Columbia aims to address concerns and restore its funding by complying with federal demands.