Courtesy of Katie Moum
In the newest round of federal funding cuts, The Trump administration and the U.S Department of Education recently threatened to revoke $9 billion from Harvard University if it did not comply with their list of demands. Harvard President Alan Garber rejected the department’s request to share hiring data with the Trump administration, dismantle their DEI program, and overhaul programs deemed to have “egregious records of antisemitism,” among other things. In response, the Trump administration froze more than $2.2 billion from Harvard’s federal funding. The freeze came amidst the department’s block of funds from many other large universities, such as Columbia, Cornell, and Northwestern– institutions which have struggled to cope with the demands of the federal agencies while maintaining their autonomy.
Harvard’s endowment, the largest in the country, allowed the school to take a unique stance in this situation, one that many other universities couldn’t afford. The university is suing the Trump administration, and denouncing its demands. On April 22, hundreds of other institutions played their part in preserving their academic freedom, even if it meant losing money. Garber, along with more than 400 presidents of colleges and universities, signed a statement denouncing the actions of the Department of Education and calling for “constructive engagement” between higher education and government oversight. Conn President Andrea Chapdelaine added Conn’s name to the illustrious list.
“A Call for Constructive Engagement” was written by the American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) and included words from scholars calling Trump’s actions an“undue government intrusion” on higher education. The paper evokes freedoms granted by America’s higher academic institutions, such as the exchange of ideas and opinions without fear of censorship. “Because of these freedoms,” the authors say, “American institutions of higher learning are essential to American prosperity and serve as productive partners with government in promoting the common good.” Perhaps most importantly, they argued that universities educate citizens on how to sustain democracy.
Connecticut College is now part of this collective cause. The day following the statement’s release, Chapdelaine messaged the entire student body informing them of her signing. In the announcement, she stated that signing the letter “reaffirms the foundational values of higher education and the importance of academic freedom, civil discourse, and institutional autonomy.” She referenced a similar statement she made earlier in the year regarding the importance of presidential speech to reflect the values of Conn’s community.
In an email interview with The College Voice, Chapdelaine noted the importance of Conn’s signature, stating that any infringement on autonomy as a private institution could impact the ability to get a sound education. “I do believe the more institutions that sign on, the greater the likelihood that it will garner some attention,” she said. “However, I also recognize that every institution is different and therefore not all presidents may feel compelled to sign.” She is referring to the private institutions that might be impacted by Trump’s sanctions but did not sign the letter, including Dartmouth College, Stanford University, and New York University. When asked about her support of the lawsuit Harvard filed against the Trump administration, Chapdelaine responded: “I do not have enough information to speak with authority on the matter, although it seems clear that the actions leading to this response from Harvard have had a severe impact on the university’s ability to fulfill its mission.” The lawsuit calls for the U.S District Court in Boston to halt the administration freeze and any future freeze on funding without adherence to federal law.
The public statement represents more than a rebuke of Trump’s actions, however. It was not only a call for diplomacy between the government and higher education, but a sign for institutions to band together in protecting their rights. In signing the document, universities across the country– large, small, liberal arts, and research– are fighting to maintain the integrity of these private institutions. As cited in The Harvard Crimson, more than 80 faculty are pledging ten percent of their salary to help Harvard fight against Trump, for example. Additionally, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, along with three other Democratic senators, “are urging the IRS’s watchdog to investigate whether the Trump administration is illegally pressuring the agency to strip Harvard of its tax exemption,” according to Politico. Even students are involved across Harvard’s campus, protesting the freezes and the federal administration’s demands.
For small liberal arts colleges like Conn, any freeze of federal funding could prevent faculty research and student Pell Grants, funding endowed to students with exceptional financial needs. While Conn hasn’t been directly affected by freezes, they do stand in a long line of nonprofit institutions that would not be able to provide full financial aid to students without federal grants. “I believe these actions warrant a response from me on Connecticut College’s behalf,” Chapdelaine said about the funding cuts. “Also, I am a board member of AAC&U and as such, endorsed the organization’s initiating the call for a collective letter.”
As it stands, the Trump administration is now threatening to revoke Harvard’s tax-exempt status, meaning the university would act essentially as a for-profit business. If Trump decides to come after liberal arts colleges, including all eleven NESCAC schools that signed their name to the letter, Conn may not be able to survive. But Chapdelaine seems optimistic about our future, saying that “The response from students, faculty, staff, alumni, parents and trustees has all been very positive, supportive and appreciative.” It may now be more imperative than ever for the Connecticut College community to stick together and protect the rights of our institution.
