On April 15, Stanford University’s chapter of the American Association of University Professors wrote a letter to University President Jonathan Levin and Provost Jenny Martinez urging for a stronger condemnation of the Trump administration’s directives on higher education, which includes threats to funding, universities’ diversity programs and enrollment of international students.The AAUP’s letter — urging Stanford to “make a strong, public statement of support and stand with Harvard” — responded to a statement Levin issued earlier in support of Harvard University’s refusal to implement the government’s requests.
According to Stanford Professor of International History Priya Satia, who helped author the chapter’s letter as an AAUP member, it is responding to what they describe as a growing political attack on academic freedom. She urged the university to denounce the government’s stance on higher education before Stanford potentially becomes the next target, looking at the Trump administration’s letter of federal funding-related demands to Harvard as a precedent.
“We crafted this letter urging (Stanford’s) administration to stand up with Harvard, to go further, take their own stand (and) make a kind of analogous statement against the White House’s assault on higher education,” she said.
Along with other efforts, the AAUP is asking Stanford faculty to sign a joint statement addressing the Trump administration’s actions on higher education and the student-faculty impact. This statement is supported by the American Association of Colleges and Universities, the American Academy of Arts & Sciences and other universities and educational leaders.
“We’re the ones who are losing research grants,” Satia said. “We’re the ones who are being told you can’t teach this or that
topic or use this in that language, and we’re the ones who also stand for the open pursuit of knowledge and for imparting that knowledge to our students and the public.”
Background
The conflict between higher education institutions and the Trump administration has intensified as the government pushes reforms aimed at reshaping academia. The Trump administration, alleging antisemitism, investigated 60 universities, demanding they eliminate Diversity Equity and Inclusion programs, audit faculty and students and reform international enrollment, under threat of defunding.
The administration’s actions are already having material consequences for universities, particularly in funding for departments such as Research & Development, according to United States Government teacher Ben Beresford. He emphasized that reduced federal support also weakens national innovation — both of which contribute to fueling new industries and economic growth.
“There are grants that have already been awarded that the federal government is just stopping payment on,” he said. “In addition, there are grants that have been outright canceled, and there are other grants that have been frozen. These federal organizations are slashing (the grants’) budgets and the amount of money that’s going to be available for research.”
Community response
For junior Iris Blanchet, the widely publicized feud between higher education and the federal government has direct implications. Having been directly involved in a local political campaign, Blanchet believes that defunding educational institutions not only weakens academic organizations domestically, but also risking damaging America’s international relations by discouraging international students from pursuing studies in the U.S.
“I think we’re going to see some irreparable harm being done to our credibility and the academic world,” she said. “I think all of this points to a wider problem that we’re facing. Donald Trump isn’t just ruining our country. He’s ruining our international credibility.”
Junior Angelise Chang builds on this perspective, emphasizing the importance that Stanford could play in defending academia.
“Stanford should be doing anything they can to protect research and students, (making) sure academia can continue to
thrive,” she said.
Satia explains that the hope for higher education can be sustained only when individuals and academic institutions
actively join forces to defend universities. She highlights efforts, letters and lawsuits opposing federal actions determining how
universities operate.
“There’s reason to be hopeful that there will be pushback against what the Trump administration is doing,” she said. “There’s so many court cases now and so many bodies involved, we would like to see Stanford more involved in them.”
