Remember when you were a kid and only cleaned your room after mom threatened to take away your allowance? The same principle apparently applies to prestigious universities with multi-billion dollar endowments. Funny how that works.

Elite academic institutions love to lecture America about values and social justice. They craft elaborate statements about inclusion and respect. But somehow, certain forms of hatred seem to slip through the cracks of their high-minded principles.

Columbia University now says fighting antisemitism is its “number one priority.” This stunning revelation came Friday evening via email from interim president Katrina Armstrong to the university community. What prompted this sudden awakening of conscience? A genuine moral epiphany? A deep institutional reflection? Or perhaps something more… tangible?

From ‘Daily Caller’:

The Department of Justice, Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Education, and the U.S. General Services Administration canceled the massive federal grants and contracts to Columbia University Friday in “the first round of action” against the university, citing “continued inaction in the face of persistent harassment of Jewish students.”

That’s right. The Trump administration just cut approximately $400 million in federal funding to Columbia. Amazing how quickly priorities can shift when the money stops flowing, isn’t it? Nothing clarifies an institution’s values quite like the sound of a checkbook snapping shut.

Armstrong’s message stressed that “Antisemitism, violence, discrimination, harassment, and other behaviors that violate our values or disrupt teaching, learning, or research are antithetical to our mission.” She vowed that Columbia “must continue to work to address any instances of these unacceptable behaviors on our campus.”

Too Little, Too Late?

Armstrong admitted the funding cuts would “touch nearly every corner of the University” and cause “anxiety and concern for our entire community.” Well, imagine the anxiety Jewish students felt while being harassed on campus with little institutional support. Apparently, that anxiety didn’t warrant emergency emails until taxpayer dollars were at stake.

In perhaps the most telling admission, Armstrong acknowledged that Columbia’s disciplinary process “previously only existed on paper.” That’s quite the confession from the leader of an Ivy League institution charging students over $80,000 per year. Would they accept homework that “existed on paper” but was never actually implemented?

She further admitted Columbia “needed to acknowledge and repair the damage to our Jewish students, who were targeted, harassed, and made to feel unsafe or unwelcome on our campus last spring.” What a concept – protecting all students regardless of their identity! Revolutionary thinking from one of America’s “premier” educational institutions.

A History of Inaction

Columbia wasn’t just any university with antisemitism problems. It was ground zero for the campus protest movement that spread to over 30 American universities following the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel.

The protests were so disruptive that Columbia canceled its main commencement ceremony. The New York Police Department had to enter campus at the administration’s request to clear protest encampments. Parents paying ivy league tuition surely didn’t expect their children’s graduation to be canceled due to the administration’s inability to maintain basic order.

One Columbia student, Khymani James, earned a ban from campus after saying “Zionists don’t deserve to live.” Yet somehow, the university couldn’t figure out how to create a safe environment for Jewish students until federal funding was on the chopping block. Their moral compass apparently runs on government batteries.

The Power of Accountability

The Trump administration’s action sends a clear message to universities nationwide: there are consequences for allowing antisemitism to flourish on campus. The joint task force specifically cited Columbia’s failure to even respond to their inquiries as reason for the funding cuts.

This marks a significant shift in how the federal government approaches bias on campus. Instead of endless investigations and strongly-worded letters, the administration is using the most effective tool available – the power of the purse. When it comes to protecting students from harassment, actions speak louder than academic statements of values.

Universities have long operated as if they’re entitled to taxpayer dollars regardless of how they’re run. That era appears to be ending. President Trump’s approach demonstrates that accountability for how taxpayer money is spent doesn’t stop at the ivy-covered gates. The message is simple: protect all students or prepare to lose federal support.

Key Takeaways:

• Columbia University decided to fight antisemitism after losing $400 million in federal funding from Trump.
• Interim President Armstrong admitted the university failed to protect Jewish students.
• This comes after years of American colleges allowing antisemitic protests on campus.

Source: Daily Caller