Columbia University announced new actions on Friday amid a fiery back and forth with President Donald Trump over protests and alleged antisemitism at the school.
Newsweek reached out to Columbia student workers via email Friday night for comment.
What To Know
Interim Columbia University President Katrina Armstrong announced the actions on Friday, highlighting points that include banning masks to conceal identity, hiring 36 campus officers “who will have the ability to remove individuals from campus and/or arrest them when appropriate,” and appointing a new senior vice provost to review “programs in regional areas across the University, starting immediately with the Middle East,” the announcement says.
Trump previously demanded that the university implement change by revoking control of an international studies department and implementing additional policy changes or permanently lose federal funding amounting to $400 million.
Reacting to the university’s announcement in a post to X, formerly Twitter on Friday, the Columbia Students for Justice in Palestine account posted, “rather than stand up against fascist administration, armstrong and cu trustees have bent over backwards to cater to zionist interests—even as the genocide in gaza escalates once again.
“Things to highlight:
1. THEY ARE OPENING AND “ADVANCING” THE TEL AVIV GLOBAL CENTER
2. de facto columbia police force with power to arrest
2. a mask ban, from a doctor
3. mesaas under what is essentially receivership”
This is a developing story that will be updated with additional information.