Universities
US government is stroking funding for Columbia University
The university loses federal grants in the millions because it is not said to have protected Jewish students enough. Critics fear that measures like this endanger freedom of expression.
The US government is stroking the renowned Columbia University in New York in the millions. Federal grants and contracts of around $ 400 million (around 370 million euros) were terminated with immediate effect, several authorities said in a joint statement.
The decision was justified with the accusation that the university had not adequately protected Jewish students from harassment and threats on campus. “These deletions represent the first round of measures and it is expected that further (…) will be followed,” said the message. There was initially no statement by the university.
Columbia had become the scene of large propalestinian protests last spring. Demonstrating built a protest camp, and a building was temporarily occupied. The then university president Nemat “Minouche” Shafik came under pressure from both sides: critics accused her not to proceed enough against anti -Semitism, while propalestinian groups assumed that she had called the police on the campus for evacuations. Shafik finally resigned from her office.
Balance act for universities
The protests to Columbia and other universities reflect the split of the US company in the debate about the Middle East conflict. Universities struggle for the balance between freedom of expression and discrimination, protest law and the protection of Jewish students. At other elite universities such as Harvard and the University of Pennsylvania, the heated debates about dealing with the protests leaded to high-ranking resignations. Since then, many universities have taken measures against anti -Semitism.
The recent reduction in funding is part of a more comprehensive advance by the government of US President Donald Trump to combat anti-Semitism. However, critics warn that propalestinic demonstrations are targeted as a whole, although such protests are not motivated anti -Semitically per se. There is concern that the measures could be used to limit unpleasant political statements – such as criticism of the Israeli government.
dpa
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
