Columbia University Withdraws Support for DHS Career Expo
Columbia University has decided to stop endorsing a virtual career fair linked to the Department of Homeland Security after faculty members raised concerns. They argued that promoting the event smacked of endorsing “authoritarianism.”
Set for February 18, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Virtual Career Expo aimed to connect potential candidates with recruiters from federal law enforcement. Reports suggest that various agencies from the Department of Homeland Security were expected to participate in this event, according to the New York Post.
An anonymous group of faculty and staff expressed that backing the expo would “further undermine Columbia University’s social standing by eroding campus trust, making parts of the community feel unsafe or targeted, and reinforcing the perception that it is complicit in a shift toward authoritarianism.” They emphasize, “Silence is considered consent.”
In response, Columbia University officials clarified that merely posting the event on their School of Professional Studies (SPS) Career Design Lab website did not imply an endorsement. The event had been listed through 12twenty, an external recruitment platform providing students and alumni access to job postings and recruitment events from numerous employers.
The university stated, “SPS and the University do not control or select the employers available on the 12twenty network. Opportunities and events on the platform should not be taken as sponsorship or endorsement by SPS or the University. Attendance at these events is not mandatory for students.”
Columbia indicates that the 12twenty platform also features a variety of employers, including other federal agencies, like the CDC, EPA, FBI, and FEMA.
On February 11, the university issued an updated statement, announcing that only SPS-sponsored events would be showcased on the Career Design Lab website. However, students and alumni will continue to have access to a wider range of external opportunities via the 12twenty platform.
Former educator Rich Candia defended the career expo, stating that students deserve access to federal law enforcement information and job opportunities. “Schools advocate for ‘choice,’ but blocking such placements is a denial of that choice, which seems hypocritical,” he remarked. “While there may be opposition on various topics, not promoting a federal event denies students who might be genuinely interested in these careers.”
