A federal judge has ordered Columbia University and Barnard College to delay releasing student disciplinary records to a House committee until a hearing next week. This decision arises from a lawsuit by students seeking to protect their privacy amid federal funding threats. Faculty at Columbia have expressed concern over compromising academic freedom under external pressures.

A federal judge has mandated that Columbia University and Barnard College temporarily withhold student disciplinary records from a Republican-led House committee until a hearing is conducted next week. This decision follows a lawsuit filed by Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia graduate student facing deportation due to his involvement in anti-Israel protests, along with other students seeking to prevent the committee from accessing these records.

The U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian has scheduled the hearing for Tuesday, where Khalil and his peers aim for a temporary restraining order against the House Committee on Education and the Workforce and its chairman, Rep. Tim Walberg. They seek a permanent injunction to protect student records from congressional oversight after the committee threatened significant funding cuts if compliance is not observed.

Columbia is also under pressure from the Trump administration to implement extensive revisions to maintain federal funding, including the potential loss of $400 million linked to accusations of failing to safeguard against antisemitism amid pro-Palestinian protests. Proposed changes involve significant alterations to academic departments and policies.

In response, a collective of history professors at Columbia has voiced their dissent against what they perceive as authoritarian actions threatening academic integrity. They emphasized the historical importance of preserving freedom in education, warning that compromising these values could hinder genuine scholarship and discourse.

Columbia University’s President Katrina Armstrong responded to the professors’ concerns, affirming the institution’s commitment to engage meaningfully with federal regulators while upholding principles of academic freedom and free expression. President Armstrong reassured that while the school would address legitimate concerns, it will not compromise on its dedication to pedagogical independence and legal obligations.

In summary, a federal judge’s ruling halts Columbia University and Barnard College from releasing student disciplinary records to a congressional committee until an upcoming hearing. This legal action stems from a lawsuit by affected students, aiming to preserve their academic privacy amid substantial federal pressure on the institutions. The discourse surrounding academic freedom continues, highlighted by the advocacy of faculty against perceived authoritarian measures.

Original Source: apnews.com

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