Pro-Palestinian protesters set up tents on Columbia University’s campus to demand the school sever financial ties with Israel and end an academic program in Tel Aviv. This led to negotiations with administrators souring, resulting in hundreds of arrests and suspensions. The protests sparked similar movements on campuses nationwide. The main demand was for the university to stop drawing endowment money from companies linked to the Israeli government. Additionally, protesters called for an end to Columbia’s dual-degree program with Tel Aviv University, which administrators refused to consider ending.
Columbia’s School of General Studies, where the dual-degree program is housed, has struggled to offer generous financial aid compared to other schools within the university. They have faced challenges balancing their budget due to rising financial aid costs. The dual-degree programs with international universities, like the one with Tel Aviv University, have helped bridge some of these financial aid disparities. Despite this, financial aid for General Studies students still lags behind other schools at Columbia.
Critics argue that Columbia’s financial concerns are overstated and that ending the dual-degree programs would not impact the university’s finances significantly. The disparity in financial aid for General Studies students has led to student-led movements advocating for increased aid. The protests and demands at Columbia highlight the complexities of financial aid distribution and the impact of divestment movements on campus dynamics.
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