News | Academics

‘Hands off our university’: Faculty rally against federal oversight of Columbia

Dozens of faculty members from the medical center and the Morningside campus expressed support for academic freedom and the protection of research funding.

By Stella Ragas / Photo Editor

Faculty members discussed the impacts of funding cuts on medical research at Columbia.

By Emily Pickering, Spencer Davis, and Joseph Zuloaga • April 15, 2025 at 6:05 AM

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Photo by Stella Ragas / Photo Editor

Faculty members gather near the Sundial at around 12:30 p.m.

Photo by Stella Ragas / Photo Editor

Jennifer Hirsch, professor at the Mailman School of Public Health, wearing a cap and gown, speaks to the crowd of attendees.

Photo by Stella Ragas / Photo Editor

Joseph Stiglitz, a Nobel prize-winning economics professor, highlighted the value of criticizing the government.

Photo by Stella Ragas / Photo Editor

Faculty members held signs reading “Columbia: Fight Back” and “Defend Academic Freedom.”

Photo by Tianqi Wang / Staff Photographer

Joseph Howley, associate professor of classics, relayed the news of Mohsen Mahdawi’s detainment by ICE to rally attendees.

Photo by Tianqi Wang / Staff Photographer

One attendee held a sign reading “No appeasement. I’m German I know where this leads.”

Photo by Zohar Ford / Staff Photographer

Joseph Slaughter, associate professor of English and comparative literature, speaks to attendees.

Photo by Tianqi Wang / Staff Photographer

Jennifer Hirsch answers questions from media outlets outside the campus gates.

Photo by Tianqi Wang / Staff Photographer

Faculty members from the medical center rallied alongside members from the Morningside campus.