How Universities Can Resist Political Attacks on Academic Freedom

As universities across the United States face escalating pressure from the Trump administration's aggressive campaign against higher education, a critical question emerges: How can they defend their independence?

A recent New York Times opinion piece argues that current attacks on universities — framed around issues like antisemitism and D.E.I. — are, in fact, part of a broader agenda rooted in anti-intellectualism and the consolidation of political power. The strategy has included the withdrawal of research grants and targeted financial threats aimed at compelling universities to comply individually, preventing collective resistance.

Columbia University, one of the first institutions targeted, quickly made administrative changes after losing hundreds of millions in funding. Harvard, facing $4 billion in cuts, has resisted — but other institutions have largely remained silent. The situation underscores how universities have prioritized rankings, fundraising, and prestige over their core mission: the production and dissemination of knowledge.

The article draws parallels to historical examples of academic resistance under autocratic regimes — from Poland’s underground "flying universities" to Kosovo’s parallel education systems — demonstrating that when educational institutions focus solely on their fundamental mission, they can withstand political pressure.

The call to action for American universities is clear: act like true centers of learning. This means investing in access to education, focusing less on wealth accumulation and prestige, and embracing their role as defenders of democracy and intellectual freedom.

If universities fail to resist now, the consequences could be irreversible.

Read the full article here: New York Times: This Is How Universities Can Escape Trump’s Trap, if They Dare