FOXNews | 8 hours ago | US Today
Columbia University recently halted the promotion of a virtual career expo associated with the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Customs and Border Protection (CBP). This decision came in response to criticisms from faculty members who argued that the promotion supported authoritarian practices. By advertising the expo, the university was perceived as aligning with contentious practices of the CBP and DHS; an alignment that some considered inappropriate within an academic environment.
Columbia University's faculty voiced concerns regarding the endorsing of a government entity that is often associated with controversial immigration practices and rules. They argued that promoting DHS and CBP not only contradicted the values of the university but also compromised the safety and well-being of students who might be immigrants.
The faculty saw the promotion of the DHS-affiliated CBP virtual career expo as a form of aiding "authoritarianism," given the often-debated practices of these government departments. The expo was seen as an attempt to normalize such agencies within the academic setting, which was strongly opposed by the faculty.
In response to the backlash from the faculty, Columbia University decided to withdraw from promoting the virtual career expo. This move was seen as the university listening and responding to the concerns of its faculty, standing by its mission to foster a safe and inclusive academic environment for all its members.