Why Columbia University’s Accreditation Should Be Reassessed: A Look at the Controversies

On June 4, the U.S. Department of Education informed the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) that it was considering revoking Columbia University’s accreditation. The charge? Alleged failures to protect Jewish students from severe harassment, essentially a violation of federal antidiscrimination laws.

This claim seems misleading. Over the past 19 months, the real issue has been Columbia’s treatment of students who protested against genocide, not their failure to protect a particular group. Columbia has curtailed academic freedom and viewpoint diversity by taking strong actions against protesters, which might warrant a reassessment of its accreditation.

The MSCHE accreditation policy is clear: accredited institutions must promote academic freedom and a respectful climate for diverse ideas. Since October 7, 2023, Columbia’s response to protests related to Gaza has raised significant concerns. Many students have faced suspension or even arrest for peacefully expressing their views, a blatant disregard for the university’s responsibility to uphold freedom of expression.

On November 10, 2023, Columbia suspended two groups—Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) and Jewish Voices for Peace (JVP)—following their peaceful protests. The university claimed that these groups used "threatening rhetoric," despite reports suggesting that the suspension was based on unrelated incidents, conveniently glossing over the protesters’ intentions. Furthermore, Columbia changed its official policies just before this suspension, raising questions about its transparency.

Katherine Franke, a tenured law professor, indicated she felt effectively fired after criticizing students with ties to the Israeli army. Additionally, it has been revealed that Columbia handed down serious penalties, including expulsions, to students involved in protests, even when cleared of criminal wrongdoing.

The university’s collaboration with the New York Police Department (NYPD) has also raised eyebrows. On April 30, 2024, 44 students were arrested, and in May, about 70 faced charges after staging a sit-in. Columbia requested police intervention, showcasing a troubling trend of stifling student voices.

This pattern reflects a broader issue of how institutions are handling protests across the U.S. Data suggests that by July 2024, over 3,100 students had been arrested for similar protests nationwide. Brandeis University banned its SJP chapter for allegedly supporting Hamas, and Cornell suspended students for encampment protests. Such actions indicate a troubling trend in higher education, where free expression is increasingly suppressed.

Interestingly, these issues aren’t isolated to Columbia. Similar incidents have occurred at Muhlenberg College and Northwestern University, where faculty members experienced retaliation for their views. These actions suggest a growing fear among students and faculty that expressing controversial opinions could lead to severe consequences—a chilling effect that the educational system should abhor.

In essence, the integrity and mission of educational institutions are at stake. If universities want to maintain credibility, they must honor the principles of academic freedom, diversity, and fair governance. The crisis unfolding across campuses signals a need for serious introspection among university leaders, who seem more aligned with donors than the principles of education.

Maintaining a vibrant academic environment means allowing diverse perspectives, even those that challenge the status quo. For universities, there shouldn’t be exceptions based on the topic of debate.

For further insights into current trends in higher education and free speech, consider reading this report from the American Association of University Professors.

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Opinions, Education, United States, US & Canada