'Would reject heavy-handed orchestration': Columbia University clarifies stand amid Trump's crackdown on campuses

Columbia University on Tuesday adopted a tougher tone towards Trump administration and pledged that it would not allow the government to "require us to relinquish our independence and autonomy."

In a statement released by the acting president, The Ivy League university said that "reject heavy-handed orchestration from the government that could potentially damage our institution and undermine useful reforms."

"As we have shared before, the University has been engaged in what we continue to believe to be good faith discussions with the Federal Task Force to Combat Antisemitism. We have sought to address allegations of antisemitism, harassment, and discrimination on our campuses, and provide a path to restoring a partnership with the federal government that supports our vital research mission, while also protecting the University’s academic and operational integrity and independence," the statement read.

"Those discussions have not concluded, and we have not reached any agreement with the government at this point. Some of the government’s requests have aligned with policies and practices that we believe are important to advancing our mission, particularly to provide a safe and inclusive campus community. I stand firmly behind the commitments we outlined on March 21, and all the work that has been done to date. Other ideas, including overly prescriptive requests about our governance, how we conduct our presidential search process, and how specifically to address viewpoint diversity issues are not subject to negotiation," it added.

Addressing the prevalent anxiety among international students, hundreds of whom across the United States have been abruptly stripped of their ability to stay in the country, Shipman wrote that she was following the government's actions "with great concern" and directed foreign students to a new need-based hardship fund.

This comes after the Trump administration stripped Harvard University from government funding and contracts after it refused to comply the suggested policy changes.

The decision threatens a vital revenue stream for Harvard, which—despite having the world’s largest university endowment—relies heavily on federal funding to support research and student aid. In the 2024 fiscal year, the university received approximately $686 million in federal grants, accounting for nearly 68% of all sponsored research revenue.

Earlier, Palestinian students Mahmoud Khalil and Mohsen Mahdawi at Columbia with a green card were arrested by ICE for their deportation. Mahdawi and Khalil co-founded the Palestinian Student Union at Columbia in 2023 fall.

Mahdawi's arrest is one of the most dramatic one so far pulled off by ICE as he was arrested from a Vermont immigration office where he came to give an interview for finalizing his US citizenship.

Earlier, Columbia University agreed to a series of government demands in a bid to restore approximately $400 million in federal funding, a move that sparked fierce debate across academic and political landscape.

For many professors, the decision represented submitting to political pressure, while conservative critics see it as a long-overdue course correction for higher education. The deal, announced on Friday, is seen as a watershed in Washington's relationships with the nation's colleges..