Okay, let's get this straight. A "student organization" at Columbia University – the university of columbia no less – is pimping out a trip to China, and it's being bankrolled by a group that smells like CCP? Give me a break.
Ivy League or Propaganda Mill?
So, the Greater China Initiative (catchy name) at Columbia's Weatherhead East Asian Institute is pushing this January 2026 trip, right? Sponsored by the China-United States Exchange Foundation (CUSEF). Now, Rep. John Moolenaar is waving red flags, saying CUSEF is basically a United Front Work operation. Translation: Beijing's influence machine. Columbia Student Organization Promoted China Trip Sponsored by CCP Front Group
We're talking about Columbia University. One of the supposed bastions of free thought and academic rigor. And they're letting themselves be used as a billboard for Chinese propaganda? What kind of message does that send to the students, to the world?
I mean, seriously, what's next? Are they gonna rename the campus Tiananmen Square West? Are they going to start teaching "Xi Jinping Thought" in poli-sci classes?
And where's the university administration in all this? Are they asleep at the wheel, or do they just not care as long as the checks clear? You'd think with all the money floating around columbia university chicago and columbia university tuition, they could find funding that doesn't come with strings attached.
The silence is deafening.
Follow the Money (and the Influence)
Moolenaar's letter is pretty clear: CUSEF is bad news. He's urging Columbia to cut ties, protect the students, and all that jazz. But let's be real, how much influence is too much? Is it when the curriculum gets rewritten? When dissenting voices get silenced? Or is it just when some columnist starts ranting about it online?
And this "United Front Work" thing... it's not just about money, is it? It's about shaping narratives, controlling information, and ultimately, advancing China's agenda. They're playing the long game, and universities like Columbia are prime targets.
I wonder if the students signing up for this trip even know what they're getting into. Are they being told about the potential risks, the propaganda, the surveillance? Or are they just blinded by the promise of a "free" trip to China? Maybe they're just hoping to pad their resumes with some "international experience" to boost their columbia university acceptance rate.
Let's be honest, it's not just Columbia. This kind of thing is probably happening at new york university, harvard university, yale university, princeton university, and every other so-called "elite" institution in the country. Everyone's chasing that sweet, sweet foreign money.
Is Anyone Actually Surprised?
Honestly, am I surprised? Nah. Disappointed? Absolutely. But surprised? Not really. Universities are businesses now, and like any business, they're driven by the bottom line. Ethics, integrity, academic freedom... those are just buzzwords they trot out for the brochures.
I mean, what are we even talking about? We've already seen the movies.
The bigger question is, what are we going to do about it? Are we just going to sit back and watch as our universities become extensions of foreign powers? Are we going to let our students be brainwashed by propaganda?
Or are we going to demand some accountability? Are we going to hold these institutions to a higher standard? Are we going to start asking some tough questions about where their money comes from and what influence it buys?
It's All About the Benjamins, Baby
I ain't gonna lie, this whole situation just leaves a bad taste in my mouth. It's a reminder that even the most prestigious institutions are vulnerable to corruption and influence. It's a reminder that money talks, and ethics often walk. And it's a reminder that we need to be vigilant in protecting our academic freedom and intellectual integrity.
So, yeah... Columbia's cozied up to China. And frankly, it's disgusting.
