Academic Coalition Opposes Trump Administration, Citing Uncrossable Red Lines’
According to Anadolu Agency, the Wall Street Journal reported that the presidents of some prestigious American universities have formed a coalition in response to the actions of the Donald Trump administration, the country’s president, to cut university research funding and attack academic independence.
According to the newspaper, this informal group consists of about 10 higher education institutions, most of which are part of the “Ivy League/group of eight prestigious private universities” and leading universities in specialized research.
Following the recent actions of the Trump administration and the presentation of a list of demands for a “widespread cultural overhaul” at Harvard University, which many universities believe is an attack on their independence, discussions and consultations have intensified for strategic action against the US government.
The coalition consists of university presidents and members of the board of trustees. They have discussed “red lines” in the coalition, such as maintaining academic autonomy, student admissions authority, hiring policies, and curriculum decisions, that they do not intend to cross.
The Trump administration has pressured universities to conform to White House policies through measures such as federal funding cuts and the cancellation of visas for foreign students.
Since returning to the White House, Trump has targeted several prestigious universities. Among his administration’s actions are the suspension of $400 million in funding to Columbia University, the halting of more than $2 billion in aid to Harvard, and the initiation of investigations into at least 60 universities focusing on programs related to diversity (racial, ethnic, national, and gender) as well as responses to student protests and demonstrations, including in support of Palestine.