> “Columbia and Barnard are cracking down on student protesters to appease the Department of Justice and billionaire donors because they are afraid of losing their funding,” said the CUAD spokesperson.

“Appeasement” was precisely how I interpreted the actions, as well.

However, I’m surprised that the university administration is naive enough to think that’s a viable strategy. Taking a hard-line stance isn’t going to convince the Trump administration to reinstate the grants they just cancelled, or remove them from the investigation list they just announced.

Better to grow a backbone, and defend the free speech rights of students (even if that speech seems objectionable) while there are still rights left to defend.

Rolling over will do nothing but hasten their demise.