Columbia College has agreed to pay $200 million over the subsequent three years to resolve claims it discriminated towards Jewish college students — an settlement the college mentioned will restore a whole bunch of hundreds of thousands of {dollars} in federal grants the Trump administration had terminated or paused earlier this 12 months.
“Whereas Columbia doesn’t admit to wrongdoing with this decision settlement, the establishment’s leaders have acknowledged, repeatedly, that Jewish college students and college have skilled painful, unacceptable incidents, and that reform was and is required,” the college mentioned in an announcement.
As well as, the college agreed to pay $21 million to settle investigations introduced by the U.S. Equal Employment Alternative Fee.
Columbia additionally agreed to undergo a federal monitor that may guarantee compliance with admissions and hiring practices and supply sure details about overseas college students to immigration authorities.
The settlement places an finish to a months-long dispute with the Trump administration over federal funding.
In March, the Trump administration mentioned it was canceling $400 million worth of grants and contracts to the college citing what it known as “the college’s continued inaction within the face of persistent harassment of Jewish college students.”
Later that month, the college agreed to nine demands from the Trump administration, together with banning masks and stricter controls over its Center East research division.
The college mentioned the settlement introduced Wednesday builds on steps it beforehand took as a part of negotiations with the administration and “builds on Columbia’s broader dedication to combating antisemitism.”
On account of the settlement, the college mentioned “a overwhelming majority” of the federal grants which had been terminated or paused in March could be reinstated and that “Columbia’s entry to billions of {dollars} in present and future grants might be restored.” That features grants terminated by the Nationwide Institutes of Well being and the Division of Well being and Human Providers.
Earlier this week, the college mentioned it was disciplining more than 70 students over two pro-Palestinian protests on the campus within the spring — together with a protest in Could when college students took over Butler Library.
The campus was roiled by protests final spring over the Israel-Hamas warfare. In late April 2024, pro-Palestinian protesters barricaded themselves inside Hamilton Corridor, resulting in a number of arrests. The scholars concerned had been later expelled, suspended or had their levels quickly revoked.This can be a growing story. Please test again for updates.
