Harvard University’s refusal to comply with the demands of the Trump administration appears to have toughened the stance being taken by Columbia University, with acting President Claire Shipman pledging not to allow the government to “require us to relinquish our independence and autonomy.”

Shipman said in a letter Monday that she read a strongly worded note from Harvard President Alan Garber “with great interest,” leading her to say that Columbia will “reject heavy-handed orchestration from the government that could potentially damage our institution and undermine useful reforms,” reports The New York Times Tuesday.

She added that any agreement where federal officials dictate “what we teach, research, or who we hire” will not be acceptable. 

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