Unfiltered Chronicle: Workers condemn Columbia administrators in labor dispute over funding cuts and alleged assaults
Columbia University dismisses approximately 180 employees following Trump administration's revocation of research funding
In an exclusive report by our senior correspondent, Eric Shawn, workers at Columbia University have boldly accused the university's management of negligence, battery, and assault. The accusations are in response to recent layoffs and the evaporation of federal grants, allegedly due to antisemitic harassment.
As of next week, the university will dismiss approximately 180 staff members following the Trump administration's controversial decision to pull $400 million in federal grants in March, citing Columbia's failure to protect Jewish students from harassment.
In a statement, acting President Claire Shipman explained, "Sadly, over 180 colleagues who, in whole or in part, were funded by the terminated grants will receive notices of non-renewal or termination. This equates to about 20% of affected individuals."
The White House has yet to comment on the matter.
In a scathing letter, Linda McMahon denounced Harvard University, asserting that it will no longer receive federal grants due to its inaction in handling antisemitic harassment[1]. Yet, it's not just Ivy League schools that have suffered. Columbia University, too, has succumbed to external pressures.
Rewind to early March, when Columbia stated it had received federal action from the Department of Justice, Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Education, and the U.S. General Services Administration, threatening to cancel an astounding $400 million in federal funding over claims of persistent harassment of Jewish students[2].
Fast-forward to April, when Columbia succumbed to demands from the Trump administration to restore federal funding. In an attempt to appease the administration, the university agreed to impose a ban on masks, empower campus police officers with arrest authority, and appoint a senior vice provost to oversee the Middle East, South Asian, and African Studies department and the Center for Palestine Studies[2].
As of today, "Columbia's leadership continues discussions with the federal government to resume activity on these research awards and additional other awards that have remained active, but unpaid"[2].
In light of increasing budget constraints and uncertainties surrounding future funding, Columbia announced the difficult decision to lay off around 180 employees[3]. Shipman acknowledged, "We understand this news will be hard."
Shockingly, Columbia janitors have also filed a lawsuit against anti-Israel agitators who they accuse of holding them hostage in a campus building[4].
In the face of these challenges, other universities, such as Stony Brook, have taken proactive measures to counteract grant cancellations and budget reductions. Stony Brook has appealed cuts and developed emergency plans to support students who may lose funding due to their advisors being affected[3].
The layoffs and alleged assaults have sparked a fierce backlash from workers, who are demanding accountability from the university's administration. In the ongoing labor dispute, these workers call for their voices to be heard, their rights to be respected, and their security to be prioritized over financial constraints and political pressure.
Louis Casiano and Alexis McAdams contributed to this report.
[1] White House revokes Harvard’s federal grants, citing antisemitism[2] Columbia University To Address Federal Grant Cancellation And Aggressive Measures To Preserve Funding[3] Balancing Budget Constraints: Stony Brook’s Approach To Grant Cancellations[4] Janitors sue anti-Israel agitators at Columbia University for holding them hostage in campus building
- The ongoing labor dispute at Columbia University escalates as workers condemn the university's administration for their alleged negligence, battery, and assault, in response to recent layoffs and the loss of federal grants due to antisemitic harassment claims.
- The layoffs at Columbia University affect around 180 staff members, equating to about 20% of individuals whose jobs were funded by the terminated grants.
- In an attempt to counteract grant cancellations and budget reductions, Stony Brook University has appealed cuts and developed emergency plans to support students who may lose funding due to their advisors being affected.
- Columbia janitors have filed a lawsuit against anti-Israel agitators, accusing them of holding them hostage in a campus building.
- As the university navigates increasing budget constraints and uncertainties surrounding future funding, workers are calling for their voices to be heard, their rights to be respected, and their security to be prioritized over financial constraints and political pressure.
