Columbia Learns a Hard Lesson

The university betrayed its Jewish students—and its core mission—and is now paying the price

WSJ editorial. Excerpts:

"Many of the steps Columbia is now promising should have been made long ago in its own best interest. Restricting masks means rule-breakers have to take responsibility for their actions. Clear rules—clearly enforced—about time, place and manner restrictions on campus speech will raise the cost for those who want to block speakers they dislike. 

The school will also incorporate into formal policy the definition of antisemitism recommended by Columbia’s own Antisemitism Taskforce last year, which makes you wonder why it hasn’t already."

"The school has agreed to appoint a new senior vice provost to “conduct a thorough review of the portfolio of programs in regional areas across the University, starting immediately with the Middle East.”"

"“hiring of non-tenured faculty.” These instructors have been among the leading agitators of anti-Jewish protests."

"American universities were once widely respected as citadels of learning that were the best in the world. Taxpayers were content to leave them alone, even as the schools became ever more dependent on federal dollars."

"The public saw conservative speakers shouted down on campus, if they were invited at all. Leftist critical theory and anti-Western, anti-American views often dominate curricula."

"Americans can’t be expected to hand a blank financial check to schools that promote values that are inimical to their own."