If Columbia University thought it could agree to Trump administration demands and then quietly tell its own insiders that it had no intention of following through on any of them, they are probably going to be mistaken. The end of this may not be some handshake deal in which Columbia promises to be better and the Trump administration restores its funding. Instead, this could be headed for a consent decree in which the school’s compliance with specific goals is closely monitored for years to come.
A consent decree, which can last for years, would give a federal judge responsibility for ensuring Columbia changes its practices along lines laid out by the federal government. If such a decree is in place, Columbia would have to comply with it. If a judge determines the school is out of compliance, it could be held in contempt of court—punishable by penalties…
