Six CT college presidents sign letter opposing government intrusion on campuses
Trinity College
The Trinity College campus in Hartford.
The leaders of six higher education institutions in Connecticut are among more than 200 nationwide who have signed a letter protesting what they say represents “unprecedented government overreach and political interference” under President Donald Trump.
The letter was signed by the presidents of Trinity College, Connecticut College, Yale University, Wesleyan University, Connecticut State Community College and Eastern Connecticut State University.
The cosigners “reject the coercive use of public research funding,” but “are open to constructive reform and do not oppose legitimate government oversight,” according to the letter, which was released by the American Association of Colleges and Universities on Tuesday.
The letter states that U.S. colleges and universities should have the academic freedom to determine “whom to admit and what is taught, how, and by whom.” It goes on to say that faculty, students and staff should be free to exchange ideas “without fear of retribution, censorship or deportation.”
Recent actions by the administration have called into question the autonomy of U.S. colleges and universities.
“The price of abridging the defining freedoms of American higher education will be paid by our students and our society,” the letter concludes.
Trump has threatened to cut billions of dollars in federal grants and contracts to colleges that he believes fail to comply with mandates against antisemitism and diversity, equity and inclusion programs, among other things.
The letter was also signed by the presidents of Harvard University, Cornell University, Columbia University, Northwestern University, Brown University, Princeton University and University of Pennsylvania, which have been specifically targeted by the Trump administration.
UConn President Radenka Maric did not sign the letter.
However, on Tuesday, a letter to the UConn community signed by Maric and other school officials, said they were aware of 13 international students – 12 current students and one recent graduate completing postgraduate training – who had their Student and Exchange Visitor Information System records terminated.
“There is no evidence these students were targeted due to political speech or affiliation,” the letter states.
The letter stopped short of criticizing Trump administration policies, but said UConn is “a global university with a deep sense of care and compassion for members of our community,” and that it is working to support affected students emotionally and academically.
There are reports of dozens of international students in Connecticut having their visas revoked. International students are a key source of revenue at many universities.
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