Universities
American universities must defend academic freedom, science, and democracy, before it is too late.
Dr. Susan Strome, PhD
Dr. Susan Strome, PhD speaks at the Stand Up for Science and Sanity Rally on October 31st, 2025 where she gives a devastating report of the damage the Trump administration has inflicted on universities and higher education. In an unprecedented attack, awarded grants have been rescinded and multiple threats have been made to university funding and autonomy. We must fight back. Many lawsuits on behalf of universities have been successful in reversing the frozen grants and fines the Trump administration has leveled towards universities they have deemed uncooperative. Dr. Strome details how UC campuses have banded together to defend each other from these attacks.
Over 150 professors at University of Santa Cruz, California sent this Resolution to the Academic Senate to condemn the deterioration of academic freedom. In particular, they noted the censorship and repression that has followed October 7th regarding support for the human rights of Palestinians. The signatories also included The Center for Labor and Community, The Center for Racial Justice, Faculty for Justice in Palestine, and The Santa Cruz Faculty Association (SCFA).
Congressional Harvard Alumni
Letter from 14 Harvard Alumni in the House and Senate To President Alan Garber
On August 1st, 14 members of the House and Senate who graduated from Harvard wrote a letter to Harvard University President Alan Garber warning him not to capitulate to the Trump administration. The signees included Congressmen Sam Liccardo (CA-16), Dr. Raul Ruiz (CA-25), John Garamendi (CA-08) and Senator Chris Van Hollen. They strongly urge Garber not to capitulate and to defend academic freedom and institutional independence.
On Thursday, June 26th, Stanford University President Jon Levin and Provost Jenny Martinez announced that there will be a reduction of $140 million for the 2025 - 2026 academic year, excluding the School of Medicine. These budget cuts are a direct response to recent federal policy changes and will require staff layoffs, on top of the already implemented staff hiring freeze. Faculty hiring may also be slowed, although they plan to prioritize financial aid and uphold the 5-year funding promise for PhD students.
The Stanford Daily published a letter signed by over 600+ Stanford Faculty from various disciplines, including the sciences, the humanities, engineering, medicine, law and more. They urge the University President to sign the AACU letter despite the institutional neutrality policy, which allows exceptions during times that "threaten the very mission of the university and its values of free inquiry".
Hakeem Jefferson, PhD, is an Assistant Professor of Political Science at Stanford. On May 30th, Dr. Jefferson spoke at Stanford AAUP's Rally to Defend Education and Research. He called for courage and clarity as we stand up to the Trump Regime, and he insists that we can't be neutral because neutrality is complicity. Please also see Democracy section of our webpage for another speech from the May 30th rally.
Robert Reich, JD, served as the Secretary of Labor under the Clinton administration and is currently the Chancellor's Professor of Public Policy at UC Berkeley. On April 17th, he delivered a remarkable speech at a Berkeley rally in which he warned that "We are in a national emergency." He commended Harvard and called on Berkeley to similarly reject the Trump regime's demands. Professor Reich enthusiastically highlighted the importance of solidarity, courage, and integrity in order to be prepared for what's to come.
Prof. Reich: "The only way to deal with a tyrant is to deny the tyrant the ability to be tyrannical."
American Association of Colleges and Universities (AACU) published a letter which has been signed by over 600 university presidents (as of 5/26). It bravely protests the Trump administration's “unprecedented government overreach and political interference” in higher education and threats to academic freedom.
