Dr. Larry Arnn, president of Hillsdale College, recently slammed universities for treating students like cash cows instead of focusing on real education. At the same time, President Trump took bold action against Columbia University, cutting $400 million in federal grants over its failure to protect Jewish students from antisemitism. These events highlight a growing divide between traditional values and woke campus culture.
Arnn didn’t hold back, saying colleges today care more about money than teaching. He argued schools push degrees that don’t prepare students for life, just to keep the cash flowing. Hillsdale, by contrast, rejects federal funding to stay independent. This lets them teach classics and American history without government strings attached.
The Trump administration’s move against Columbia sends a clear message: schools that tolerate antisemitism won’t get a free pass. Federal agencies canceled contracts after months of harassment against Jewish students. Education Secretary Linda McMahon said Columbia ignored its duty to keep students safe. This crackdown is part of a broader push to hold universities accountable.
Columbia claims it’s “reviewing” the decision, but critics say it’s too little, too late. Violent protests took over campus last year, with activists attacking police and occupying buildings. Jewish students reported threats and vandalism, but administrators did nothing. Now taxpayers won’t foot the bill for chaos.
Other elite schools like Harvard and UCLA are also under investigation. President Trump warned that any college allowing illegal protests will lose funding. His task force vows more cuts if schools keep putting woke politics over students’ rights.
Hillsdale stands as a model of what education should be—no federal dollars, no radical agendas. While Columbia drowns in red tape, Hillsdale’s endowment keeps growing thanks to private donors. They prove schools can thrive without bending to government demands.
The fight over education isn’t just about money. It’s about whether colleges teach students to think or just parrot far-left slogans. Hillsdale grads learn the Founding Fathers’ wisdom, not critical race theory. That’s why parents and donors trust them with their kids’ futures.
Conservatives see Trump’s action as a win for common sense. Schools that push antisemitism or waste money on useless degrees don’t deserve taxpayer support. It’s time to back colleges that put America first, not last.
