• Columbia University agrees to pay over $220 million to settle allegations of failing to curb campus antisemitism.
• The settlement restores access to $1.3 billion in federal funding previously frozen by the Trump administration.
• Major reforms will be implemented, including adjusting disciplinary procedures and hiring faculty in Jewish Studies.

Columbia University has reached a historic settlement with the Trump administration, agreeing to pay over $220 million in response to allegations of antisemitism on campus. This agreement marks a significant action prompted by the university's handling of protests related to the Israel-Hamas conflict, which intensified following the October 2023 Hamas attacks. Federal funding worth over $400 million was previously frozen due to Columbia's perceived inactions regarding antisemitic incidents affecting Jewish students, according to Indiatimes and Al Jazeera.

The settlement allows Columbia University to restore its access to $1.3 billion in federal funding, critical for its research and operations. In addition to the monetary settlement, which includes a $21 million payment to resolve claims from the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission concerning workplace harassment, Columbia must undertake comprehensive reforms. These reforms include revising disciplinary policies for student protests and increasing the recruitment of faculty trained in Jewish Studies, as reported by Indiatimes and Reuters.

Central to the agreement is Columbia's commitment to define and address antisemitism more effectively, effectively mandating the use of a federally endorsed definition in its policies. This includes strategies to prevent disturbances during campus protests, such as requiring students to identify themselves if masked. The measures will reportedly oversee compliance through an independent monitor, which aims to ensure adherence to the agreed terms, according to Middle East Eye and NPR.

The settlement has significant implications not just for Columbia University but also for other institutions. The Trump administration is reportedly using this agreement as a new model for managing alleged antisemitism on campuses, potentially impacting universities across the United States. Institutions like Harvard, Cornell, and Northwestern are currently under scrutiny, with serious financial penalties expected if compliance with similar demands is not met, according to Indiatimes and Reuters.

Columbia's acting President Claire Shipman expressed that this settlement was not an admission of wrongdoing but a necessary step to restore federal support and academic stability. The university has faced harsh criticism for perceived capitulation to federal demands, yet Shipman has defended the deal as a means to preserve academic integrity while addressing the serious challenges of antisemitism reported on campus, demonstrating an ongoing struggle between institutional autonomy and federal oversight, according to Indiatimes and Reuters.