Columbia Sportswear has filed a lawsuit against Columbia University, alleging trademark infringement and breach of contract. The lawsuit claims the university’s merchandise, particularly apparel lacking required identifying logos, is too similar to Columbia Sportswear’s offerings, causing consumer confusion. The agreement, signed in June 2023, allowed the university to use “Columbia” on merchandise with specific school identifiers, which the sportswear company alleges the university violated. Columbia Sportswear seeks to halt sales of infringing products, recall existing items, and secure damages for the harm caused to its brand.
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Columbia University has reached a $220 million settlement with the Trump administration over concerns of antisemitism on campus. The agreement, which includes a $200 million payment over three years and $21 million to settle related investigations, stems from the administration’s claims of the university’s failure to address antisemitism during the Israel-Hamas war. As part of the deal, Columbia will implement reforms, including changes to its curriculum and student disciplinary processes, while also agreeing to ensure its programs do not promote unlawful DEI goals. This settlement, reached after months of scrutiny, allows Columbia to restore federal funding and safeguard its independence.
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Columbia University is expected to announce a federal deal involving a partnership with the Anti-Defamation League and adoption of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s definition of antisemitism, which could be used to stifle criticism of Israel. University officials, in collaboration with the Trump administration, restructured the University Judicial Board to impose harsh sanctions on student protestors, who were demonstrating in support of Palestine and demanding divestment from Israel. This is indicative of the university’s pattern of prioritizing political alignment over student rights, as seen in its previous cooperation with ICE. The university’s actions are viewed as an attack on free speech and any criticism of Israel.
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Columbia University has disciplined over 70 students for their involvement in pro-Palestinian protests, including those at Butler Library and during alumni weekend. Sanctions include probation, suspensions (ranging from one to three years), degree revocations, and expulsions. The university stated these actions were necessary to address disruptions to academic activities, and the crackdown follows the implementation of new policies agreed upon with the Trump administration, including adjusted disciplinary processes and a ban on masks at protests in most cases. These recent actions echo similar disciplinary measures from last year’s protests, reflecting the university’s efforts to manage the impact of student activism on campus.
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Columbia University has received a warning from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, putting its accreditation at risk. The commission cited “insufficient evidence” of compliance with standards on ethics and integrity as the reason for the warning. This formal notification was sent to Columbia’s Acting President, Claire Shipman. The university’s accreditation status is now under scrutiny due to these concerns.
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The U.S. Department of Education’s announcement that Columbia University allegedly violated federal anti-discrimination laws by failing to protect Jewish students has sparked a firestorm of debate. The department’s notification to the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, the accrediting body, claims this failure constitutes a breach of accreditation standards. This action, however, is viewed by many as a highly politicized move, raising serious concerns about the integrity of the accreditation process itself.
The situation highlights a broader struggle between the government and institutions of higher learning. The perception that the Department of Education is wielding its authority to punish perceived political dissent, rather than objectively assessing adherence to accreditation standards, is fueling the controversy.… Continue reading
Columbia activist, Mr. Mahdawi, was arrested by ICE agents during his scheduled appointment for citizenship. This arrest, occurring without any accusation of criminal activity, highlights a deeply troubling trend. His lawyers argue that the administration is using a legal provision, the same one used against fellow Columbia student Mahmoud Khalil, to justify his removal from the country. The justification centers on the claim that his presence threatens U.S. foreign policy and national security interests.
This claim, however, lacks concrete evidence. Immigration officials have vaguely linked pro-Palestinian demonstrations to the spread of antisemitism, yet they have failed to provide any substantial proof supporting this assertion.… Continue reading
The Justice Department is investigating Columbia University for allegedly harboring undocumented immigrants, following searches of university residences and the deportation of a student whose visa was revoked. The investigation stems from protests at the university last year and is linked to the administration’s broader crackdown on individuals involved in pro-Palestinian demonstrations. This action is part of the President’s stated mission to combat antisemitism, and includes the revocation of federal funding to the university. Two individuals connected to the protests, a doctoral student and a Palestinian woman, have been deported or arrested on immigration charges.
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Following a months-long investigation into the Hamilton Hall occupation during last spring’s pro-Palestinian protests, Columbia University’s judicial board has issued sanctions against dozens of students. Penalties ranged from multi-year suspensions and temporary degree revocations to expulsions, reflecting the severity of individual actions. The university did not specify the number of students affected by each sanction. This action comes amidst other controversies, including a lawsuit by CAIR challenging the university’s release of student disciplinary records to Congress and the arrest of a student activist by federal immigration authorities.
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The Trump administration, citing pro-terrorist and anti-Semitic activities on college campuses, threatened to defund universities harboring such actions and to punish involved students through imprisonment, deportation, or expulsion. This culminated in the cancellation of $400 million in federal grants to Columbia University. The administration’s actions, targeting a student of Algerian and Palestinian origin, appear ethnically motivated and align with broader immigration enforcement goals. This raises concerns about the suppression of free speech and the targeting of legal immigrants.
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John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood