170 American higher education institutions are resisting political interference from the Trump administration. They demand the free exchange of ideas “without fear of retribution, censorship, or deportation”.
Leaders from institutions including Princeton, Yale, and MIT have spoken out “against the unprecedented government interference and political meddling that currently threaten American higher education”. The American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) published a letter on Wednesday, which was signed by 170 institutions.
Demands
For months, the Trump administration has been trying to enforce its demands on American educational institutions, such as the elimination of diversity policies and the exclusion of international students who are deemed “hostile to American values”. If an institution refuses to comply, its financial support is suspended.
The president of Harvard also signed the letter. Last week, he already stated that he would not bow to President Donald Trump’s long list of demands. In response, the government froze $2.2 billion in federal subsidies. This weekend, a further $1 billion was added. Harvard has announced it will take legal action, the president confirmed on Monday.
Open Inquiry
Columbia University did not sign the letter. Last month, the government threatened to cut around $400 million in funding from the prestigious university. To avoid this, Columbia quickly agreed to the administration’s demands. (HOP, NB)
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