Columbia's caving to Trump is horrible for free speech and political dissent.
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Two Unions Sue Trump Over Columbia University Funding Freeze
Above: Students wait in security lines outside of Columbia University on March 24, 2025. Image copyright: Spencer Platt/Staff/Getty Images News via Getty Images
The Spin
Republican narrative
The administration's actions are necessary, as someone had to address the antisemitism on campus and restore academic balance. The funding leverage successfully pushed Columbia to implement crucial reforms that will protect Jewish students and ensure ideological diversity in higher education.
Democratic narrative
This unprecedented government interference is a dangerous assault on academic freedom and institutional autonomy. The administration is using financial coercion to control campus speech and reshape university policies, setting a troubling precedent for higher education.