Trump-appointed judges criticize school’s response to protests and call for hiring boycott

  • Federal judges appointed by Trump plan to blackball graduates of Columbia University
  • Letter sent to Columbia University President criticizing school’s response to protests
  • Judges refuse to hire anyone from Columbia starting with the entering class of 2024
  • Tensions between judges and campuses have been escalating for years
  • Judges previously boycotted Yale and Stanford law schools
  • Judges hope to pressure schools to hire more conservative faculty
  • Concerns over leftward ideological drift on campuses
  • Pro-Palestinian protests on campuses raise concerns about antisemitism
  • Legal professionals question the wisdom of blacklisting specific institutions
  • Boycotts may punish individuals not involved in protests

A group of federal judges appointed by former President Donald Trump have announced plans to blackball graduates of Columbia University. In a letter to Columbia University President Minouche Shafik, the judges criticized the school’s response to pro-Palestinian protests and accused the campus of being an ‘incubator of bigotry’ with rampant antisemitism and a lack of diverse perspectives. The judges stated that they will not hire anyone from Columbia starting with the entering class of 2024. This move follows previous boycotts of Yale and Stanford law schools by conservative judges. The judges hope to pressure schools to hire more conservative faculty and crack down on disruptive students. However, legal professionals question the wisdom of blacklisting specific institutions, as it may punish individuals who were not involved in the protests.

Factuality Level: 2
Factuality Justification: The article contains several issues that lower its factuality level. It includes biased language, such as labeling Columbia University as an ‘incubator of bigotry’ and ‘rampant antisemitism,’ without providing concrete evidence to support these claims. The article also lacks balance by not including perspectives from Columbia University or students involved in the protests. Additionally, the article mixes factual information with opinion, especially in the quotes from judges expressing their personal views on the situation.
Noise Level: 2
Noise Justification: The article provides a detailed account of federal judges’ decision to blacklist graduates from certain universities due to perceived political biases. It includes quotes from involved parties, background information, and context on the issue. The article stays on topic and provides relevant information without excessive noise or filler content.
Financial Relevance: No
Financial Markets Impacted: No
Presence Of Extreme Event: No
Nature Of Extreme Event: No
Impact Rating Of The Extreme Event: No
Rating Justification: This news article does not pertain to financial topics and does not describe any extreme events.
Private Companies: Columbia University
Key People: Minouche Shafik (President of Columbia University), Gillian Lester (Dean of Columbia Law School)

Reported publicly: www.wsj.com