Columbia University and the Trump administration have reached a deal that restores federal funding and research grant money to the university.

As part of the agreement, Colombia will pay $200 million to the federal government over three years,

and an additional $21 million to resolve alleged civil rights violations against Jewish employees.

The university agreed to suspend, expel, or revoke degrees from some 70 students who participated

in pro-Palestinian demonstrations, and it will issue a report to a monitor to ensure diversity,

equity, and inclusion is not promoted on campus.

Colombia, which was at risk of losing billions of dollars from the government,

says it retains its academic freedom.

For a closer look at this agreement and what it means for higher education in the U.S.,

I'm joined by Michael Roth, president of Wesleyan University.

President Roth, welcome back to the News Hour.

Thanks for joining us.

Thanks for having me.

So let's just start with your initial reaction. When you heard the news and the details of this settlement, what did you think?

Well, I felt like one must feel when you've paid a ransom in the kidnapping situation and the person who's been kidnapped is returned safely.

You think, thank goodness, the kid's okay,

or the person kidnapped is okay.

But I wouldn't praise the agreement

that led to the liberation of the kidnapped person.

And so in this case, I was pleased that this particular moment of assault on a higher

education by the Trump administration has been resolved, at least for now, though who knows

these agreements come and go with this White House, I was, and I am distressed that in this country today,

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