There’s a letter floating around among American universities. It’s a good letter that expresses some commendable statements, but is a bit light on specific actions they’re going to take. They “reject the coercive use of public research funding,” which is nice, but how?
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. We are open to constructive reform and do not oppose legitimate government oversight. However, we must oppose undue government intrusion in the lives of those who learn, live, and work on our campuses. We will always seek effective and fair financial practices, but we must reject the coercive use of public research funding.
America’s system of higher learning is as varied as the goals and dreams of the students it serves. It includes research universities and community colleges; comprehensive universities and liberal arts colleges; public institutions and private ones; freestanding and multi-site campuses. Some institutions are designed for all students, and others are dedicated to serving particular groups. Yet, American institutions of higher learning have in common the essential freedom to determine, on academic grounds, whom to admit and what is taught, how, and by whom. 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.
Because of these freedoms, American institutions of higher learning are essential to American prosperity and serve as productive partners with government in promoting the common good. Colleges and universities are engines of opportunity and mobility, anchor institutions that contribute to economic and cultural vitality regionally and in our local communities. They foster creativity and innovation, provide human resources to meet the fast-changing demands of our dynamic workforce, and are themselves major employers. They nurture the scholarly pursuits that ensure America’s leadership in research, and many provide healthcare and other essential services. Most fundamentally, America’s colleges and universities prepare an educated citizenry to sustain our democracy.
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, we call for constructive engagement that improves our institutions and serves our republic.
The letter has over 200 signatories, a good start. I notice, however, that the University of Minnesota is not one of them. Even Columbia has signed on, but my university is taking their sweet time. I heard from our chancellor that there is going to be a meeting this week to discuss our response to the Trump regime. I hope they come up with the right answer.
Snopes: Unpacking claim Barron Trump was rejected from Harvard, Columbia, Stanford
Shorter version; Reject the edicts of Emperor Gollum!
Nice sentiment. Unfortunately, I doubt that Trump and the MAGAt GOP are interested in “constructive engagement”. They want capitulation and campaign donations, the later being the gravy train they, and in particular Trump, have discovered.
“I heard from our chancellor that there is going to be a meeting this week to discuss our response to the Trump regime.”
The response has to be the same, or nearly the same across the board. All Universities must bond together and hold the line. They must also be prepared and willing to suffer the consequences of their choices no matter what. Of course there will be suffering, that is how the game will be won. A clear message must be sent to Trump and his enforcers.
This is nothing more than a parent setting boundaries on a child.
This is why I have little faith any actions will be fully successful. As long and Trump can keep the opposition divided, he stands a good chance of winning. He won the election by using anger and hate to target immigrants and LBGTQ, a small segment of the population, and he successfully divided the country. All he needs are a few (major) Universities, cough Columbia, to cave and he will hold the upper hand. One thing people do not understand about Trump is you cannot play nice. You must play hardball and not Trump ball. I do not see all these entities forming a unified alliance. Everybody loses if Trump wins.
Divide and conquer, united we stand, you guys know the drill.
This applies to all the Corporations and countries throughout the world who are being targeted by his tariffs. Do not give in to Trump’s blackmail, that is the only weapon he knows.
Trump profits from bankruptcy. Imagine how much he will profit from bankrupting one or more countries. Who needs education to be a slave. Bring on the Dark Age, it only affects “those” people.
Must be nice to be Harvard, who has enough resources to have integrity….
Matt, integrity does not need resources; that you think it does is informative.
also, cf. https://www.statista.com/statistics/221147/the-20-richest-colleges-in-the-us/
Sure, sometimes integrity can cost you financially.
But when that’s the consideration whereupon you give up on integrity, well…
#6
Matt,
You (and many universities) are asking the wrong question. Trump wants control and power. Giving in to his demands means he gets what he wants and will not stop with the initial set of demands. He will ask for more and more and more. The only question is at what point do you fight back? Fighting back earlier is easier since giving in to each set of demands weakens you. Universities are realizing this and the large law firms will learn this lesson eventually.
Columbia gave in to the demands and Trump did not restore funding and Trump only demanded more.
stuffin @ # 4: Do not give in to Trump’s blackmail, that is the only weapon he knows.
No, he can also lie very effectively.