Columbia University Fined $200 Million for Failing to Combat Anti-Semitism

Columbia University, a leading US educational institution, has reached a $221 million (approximately Rs 2,300 crore) settlement with former President Donald Trump’s administration over allegations that it failed to prevent anti-Semitic incidents on its campus. Columbia’s acting president, Claire Shipman, said that fighting in court would have risked losing grants, international student visas or revocation of admissions. However, she refused to accept the Trump administration’s claim that “Columbia was inactive on anti-Semitism.” Trump called it a “historic victory” on his Truth Social platform. He said that “other universities must also be held accountable for wasting federal funds and appeasing anti-Semitism.” The pro-Palestinian student group Columbia University Apartheid Divest (CUAD) denounced the deal as a “bribe to Trump.” They said, “Trump has been given $221 million to punish students who took a stand against the massacre in Gaza!” Protests erupted at many US universities, including Columbia, in 2024 in protest of the Gaza war. Jewish students complained that the protests had turned anti-Semitic. On the other hand, pro-Palestinian activists said that criticism of Israel was being misrepresented as anti-Semitic. In May, 80 students were expelled or suspended for 1-3 years for taking over Columbia’s main library and participating in the “Rise for Rafah” campaign. Analysts believe that the deal has further inflamed the debate over free speech versus anti-Semitism in American academia.