The Cost of Curtailing Fundamental Freedoms in U.S. Higher Education
“The price of abridging the defining freedoms of American higher education will be paid by our students and our society.”
On Tuesday, over 150 college and university presidents released a public statement condemning President Donald Trump’s interference in university affairs. This declaration, organized by the American Association of Colleges and Universities and titled “A Call for Constructive Engagement,” drew attention not only because of the significant number of higher education leaders who endorsed it but also because of notable absences.
The statement, described by the American Association of University Professors at the University of Texas at Austin as far from “a radical idea,” surprisingly did not include the signature of UT-Austin’s president, Jim Davis. This was particularly notable as UT-Austin had experienced violent police responses against student protesters last year during demonstrations supporting Palestinians amidst Israel’s U.S.-supported attacks.
A year has passed since these protests began at Columbia University, yet in recent weeks, the Trump administration has escalated its actions by revoking the visas of hundreds of international students active in these protests. High-profile cases include Mahmoud Khalil, Rumeysa Ozturk, and Mohsen Mahdawi, all currently detained and facing deportation threats.
“As leaders of America’s colleges, universities, and scholarly societies, we speak with one voice against the unprecedented government overreach and political interference now endangering American higher education,” the statement declared. Signatories included Felix V. Matos-Rodriguez of City University of New York, Maurie McInnis of Yale, Alan M. Garber of Harvard, and Christopher L. Eisgruber of Princeton.
“Our colleges and universities share a commitment to serve as centers of open inquiry where, in their pursuit of truth, faculty, students, and staff are free to exchange ideas and opinions across a full range of viewpoints without fear of retribution, censorship, or deportation,” the statement further emphasized.
This declaration was released just a day after Harvard University sued members of the Trump administration and several federal agencies, challenging the White House’s decision to freeze $2.2 billion in funding and threaten the university’s tax-exempt status—a move that could endanger vital cancer research and other scientific endeavors.
The administration’s punitive measures against Harvard were reportedly in retaliation to the university’s refusal to audit its academic programs for ideological diversity, to expel students engaged in a pro-Palestinian protest earlier in the year, and to cease recognition of Palestinian solidarity groups on campus.
The university leaders who signed the statement asserted their openness to constructive reform and acknowledged the legitimacy of government oversight. However, they stood firmly against undue governmental intrusion into campus life, vowing to maintain effective and equitable financial practices while rejecting the manipulative use of public research funding.
This call to action followed several resolutions passed by faculty senates within the Big Ten Academic Alliance, initiated by Rutgers University. Rutgers called for a “mutual defense compact” last month, encouraging university leaders to unite against the administration’s encroachments and to pool resources in defense of students and faculty under direct attack.
“I am glad this finally happened,” said Rutgers professor Todd Wolfson concerning the AACU statement. “AAUP has been advocating for this letter for over a month. If your college or university president hasn’t signed, it’s time to demand why.”
Some critics, particularly those connected with Columbia University, suggested that students and faculty should seek explanations from their leaders for not signing the initial letter. Columbia University’s acting president, Claire Shipman, who eventually added her signature later on Tuesday, faced criticism for allowing police to harshly suppress pro-Palestinian student protests the previous year and for the university’s subsequent actions against student organizers.
Those endorsing the statement cautioned that “the price of abridging the defining freedoms of American higher education will be paid by our students and our society.”
“On behalf of our current and future students, and all who work at and benefit from our institutions,” the statement concluded, “we call for constructive engagement that improves our institutions and serves our republic.”
Note: This article has been updated to include Claire Shipman’s signature, which was added to the letter later on Tuesday, April 22.
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