539 Comments
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Mike_Cramer's avatar

Never send a liberal to do a leftist's job.

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Stephanie Hobbs's avatar

Bit by bit he's destroying everything that made us great.

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kmblue187's avatar

Blackmailers always come back for more.

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Alpaca Suitcase's avatar

George Mason in VA has also lost a president, its first Black president, to the anti-woke mob.I'm wondering what VA Dems asking for our vote this fall plan to do about Trump's attacks on 2 of our largest public universities.

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Ryp's avatar

While just a small drop in the bucket in relation to their endowment, it will be interesting to see how Columbia’s annual alumni Giving Day does this coming October. The dollar and participation amount increased steadily into 2022, from its inception in 2012, reaching $30 million that year. It was postponed in 2023, due to the Oct 7 attack on Israel. In 2024 it dropped to $22 million and participants dropped by about a third from 2022. My guess is this was connected to Columbia’s bungling of its handling of the Palestinian protests.

This year they will face a double whammy, I’m not sure alumni who were previously dissatisfied with Columbia’s responses to charges it enabled antisemitism will be more generous this year, and I can’t imagine those dissatisfied with its capitulation to the Trump administration are interested in seeing their contributions go back out the door to pay bullshit fines. I won’t be surprised if they find a reason to cancel Giving Day again.

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DemoCat's avatar

In exchange for a $200 million tribute, the government offers Columbia its generous protection. Thank you, Godfather.

Just absolutely shaking down institutions now. Horrifying.

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Bagels of Doom's avatar

Shameful.

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ManchuCandidate's avatar

Should be forever known as:

Chamberlain U

Crumblia U

Quisling U

Cowardice College

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Lil Snot's avatar

Sooooo...protesters can't wear masks, but ICE agents making 6 figures to act out their sadistic fantasies can? Cool, cool....

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Vesper's avatar

Because giving bullies what they want has always worked so well, for the bullies! If Trump really wants to be a king I suggest we give him a name akin to Ethelred the Unready who killed people to avoid treason and bribed Vikings with gold and land to stop invading. Neither of which were successful. Trump isn't just unwise he is also prolifically stupid and even worse than old ineffectual Ethelred.

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Zyxomma's avatar

Ta, Dok. Columbia used to have a great reputation. No more.

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ManchuCandidate's avatar

It does have a great rep... as Capituation U!

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Skunk Formerly Known As Stoner's avatar

“spent federal money, much of it from our government”

Please tell me where I apply for federal grants that aren’t from our government.

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Alpaca Suitcase's avatar

Keep govt out of our federal grants!

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GrannysKnitting's avatar

they really have destroyed their reputation, haven't they - trump will be gone but their rep will take decades to recover

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Rhizolith Reborn's avatar

I'm going to go out on a limb here.

I'm thoroughly disgusted by all of this. Truly.

But, consider this. Columbia is already fighting 2 republican controlled branches of the government. Normally, they would at least be somewhat held in check by the courts. Since the sleazy 6 have been tearing down what protections remain against PAB, that option looks dicey at best. Realistically, it may no longer be any kind of option as SCOTUS just begins rubber stamping whatever twisted notions POB or congress have.

What was their end game? PAB and congress can fuck with them any way they like. If there is no redress from the courts, what are they supposed to do?

I'm honestly terrified that a year from now Columbia will look like the smart ones for settling early before things got really, really bad.

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Alpaca Suitcase's avatar

What profits a university if it gains its continued exisance but loses its soul?

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Rhizolith Reborn's avatar

Profits for those at the top. Same as it ever was.

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Pauly2coffees's avatar

They caved and gave in to fascism. They have lost any credibility they had. Another institution destroyed by that scumbag.

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BosGrl's avatar

When my daughter was a little, she got it into her head that she wanted to go to Columbia. These days, she just shakes her head.

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oscarphile's avatar

So where precisely is their extortion money going? $200 million "to the government" means ... the DoEd? The military budget? The rapist's pocket?

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Alpaca Suitcase's avatar

They brake it so they can rob it.

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Dina's avatar

I'll say "C."

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