Free Speech Under Fire: Columbia Students Face Unprecedented Challenges

Columbia University, once a hotbed of student activism, is experiencing a significant shift. The vibrant protests that once filled the campus have quieted down. Why the change? The Trump administration's crackdown on international student protesters has created a climate of fear. Students are now hesitant to speak out, fearing severe consequences. The university has implemented new rules restricting demonstrations. Protests are no longer as bold or frequent as they once were. A freshman engineering student, who wished to remain anonymous, shared his concerns. He watched the protests last year from Texas and felt proud. However, he won't join any this year. "It's too dangerous, " he said. His family doesn't have the financial means to afford a lawyer if he gets into trouble. The situation has escalated dramatically. Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia graduate student, was arrested by immigration authorities. He helped lead pro-Palestinian protests last year. Khalil, born in Syria and of Palestinian descent, was living in university housing on a student visa with his pregnant wife. This arrest sent shockwaves through the campus. Another international student was arrested, and a third fled to Canada. A fourth student, who has lived in the U. S. since she was seven, sued the Trump administration after they tried to deport her. The crackdown isn't limited to Columbia. Students at other universities, like Georgetown, Tufts, and the University of Alabama, have also been arrested. The Department of Homeland Security has been actively involved in these arrests. A video showed officers detaining a Tufts student, Rumeysa Ozturk, a Turkish national. She was taken away as she screamed in confusion. Columbia University faced a tough decision. The Trump administration threatened to cut $400 million in federal research grants if the university didn't take action against the protests. The university agreed to ban masks at protests, hire new campus security officers with arrest powers, and appoint a senior vice provost to oversee certain departments. Students and faculty have protested these changes, but the responses have been muted. A student protest in March was confined to a small space outside the university gates. It was surrounded by police barricades and lasted only a few hours. A faculty vigil for democracy took place off-campus, and a student activist group encouraged students to sit out of classes and wear masks. However, the overall response has been lackluster. Allie Wong, a Ph. D. student who was arrested while protesting, noted the chilling effect on campus. She compared the current situation to past protests, like the 1968 takeover of Hamilton Hall to protest the Vietnam War. "It's uncommon for the president to actively target individuals after protests, " she said. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) have criticized the administration's actions. They argue that the crackdown poses grave First Amendment concerns and could set a dangerous precedent for other universities. The AAUP even sued several federal agencies, arguing that the actions violated professors' right to free speech. Despite the turmoil, life on campus appears normal to outsiders. Classes continue, athletic competitions go on, and the libraries are open. However, the underlying tension is palpable. Students and faculty are navigating a complex landscape of fear, uncertainty, and restricted free speech. The future of activism at Columbia University hangs in the balance.