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Author: standcolumbia

  • Issue #033: This Is Serious

    The major development this week is the federal government’s decision to cut $400 million in grants (supposedly they were going to cut $3 billion at first). We do not have additional insights to offer at this moment. However, three key points stand out: (1) the announcement describes this as a “freeze” rather than something more…

  • Issue #032: Federal Government Weighs Cutting Billions of Columbia’s Funding

    Earlier tonight, the U.S. Department of Education, Department of Health and Human Services, and General Services Administration issued a press release that places Columbia University at existential risk. According to the statement, due to “Columbia’s ongoing inaction in the face of relentless harassment of Jewish students,” the federal government’s cross-agency antisemitism task force is now…

  • Issue #031: The Eden Plan to “Destroy Columbia University”, Part I

    We won’t dwell on the recent incidents at Barnard College—other sources have covered that farce thoroughly. However, we strongly disagree with the Barnard administration’s decision to promise no disciplinary action for dispersal. We note that this leniency (solely for “presence in the building”) leaves open the possibility that those responsible for vandalizing walls and assaulting…

  • Issue #030: The Great DEI Crackdown: What’s Next for Columbia and American Universities

    This past week, the Trump administration dropped a “Dear Colleague Letter” that launched a broadside against race-based preferencing and the entire diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) infrastructure in American higher education. It explicitly threatened to cut off funding to any university that uses “race in decisions pertaining to admissions, hiring, promotion, compensation, financial aid, scholarships,…

  • Issue #029: The Hidden Economics of Government Funding of Universities (A Long and Nerdy Analysis)

    Last week, we published a widely read and widely shared analysis on how NIH funding cuts could impact Columbia and the broader academic landscape. The response was overwhelming—we received a flood of questions, critiques, and requests for deeper context on research funding in higher education. This week, we’re diving into five of the most pressing…

  • Issue #028: Federal Funding Cuts Shake Higher Education and Could Cost Columbia Over $200 Million

    Three months ago, we published a detailed analysis looking at the financial risks Columbia University could face under a Trump administration. Our analysis suggested up to $250 million in “probable” short-term financial exposure, with a focus on Columbia’s $1.3 billion in government grants. While our report sparked widespread discussion, it also drew its share of…

  • Issue #027: Trump’s Second Week Brings DEI Crackdowns, Deportation Threats, and (Yet More) Disruptions on Campus

    The hurricane of Trump executive orders last week did not stop. In fact, the Trump administration seems intent on further throwing down gauntlets left and right. This week, the edicts continued. The attempted funding freeze On Monday, January 27, 2025, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) circulated an internal memo that mandated every federal…

  • Issue #026: Key Developments From The First Six Days of the Trump Administration

    It has been an incredibly eventful week with new developments coming out of Washington and New York. We at the Stand Columbia Society think matters are evolving too quickly for any sort of credible and insightful analysis. So instead, we will attempt to highlight five key developments that everyone who loves Columbia should know, and…

  • Issue #025: The MLA’s Surprising Stance on BDS and Its Implications for Academia

    Note: We are trying out an experiment. Our friends at the 1636 Forum (Harvard) noticed that more readers engaged with their content if it was sent on a Saturday afternoon versus a Friday evening. We will test this for a few weeks before making a permanent decision. Last week, something unusual happened in the world…

  • Issue #024: Why Columbia’s Protestors Likely Won’t Face Consequences for the Occupation of and Damage to Hamilton Hall

    In a pivotal development, the University Judicial Board (UJB) has finally come to life. The UJB is a panel of faculty, students, and administrators that is completely separate from and independent of Columbia’s administration, whose members are appointed by the University Senate’s Executive Committee. This body, responsible for adjudicating protest-related discipline at Columbia University, has…