In the end. Columbia University chose to do the right thing. But only after almost every other option got exhausted.

After abdicating authority for months while agitators targeted Jewish students and faculty for intimidation, the Trump administration suspended access to nearly a half-billion dollars in federal funds. Columbia finally threw in the towel this week.

First, they suspended or expelled dozens of students that seized and vandalized the library in May. Then they agreed to pay more than $220 million to settle enforcement actions from the Department of Education, agreed to end its DEI policies on admissions and hiring, and agreed to a federal monitor to oversee the implementation of the agreement.

That’s an expensive capitulation. It gives Donald Trump a key victory in his efforts to reform higher education while sending a loud signal to other higher-ed institutions that refuse to protect Jewish students and faculty.

Is Harvard listening?

And are they learning?