More than 500 Boston University faculty signed a letter sent Thursday addressed to BU’s Board of Trustees, urging the University to contest “unlawful demands by the federal government” and join other universities in a unified resistance to the Trump administration’s interference in university conduct.
As of Thursday night, the letter received 502 signatures and is being updated as more faculty sign.
“We want them to resist unlawful coercion publicly,” said Gerry Leonard, a BU law professor who signed the letter. “We want them to cooperate with other universities in making that resistance firm and … work with other universities.”
Faculty from 14 other universities nationwide signed similar letters, bringing the total signature count to more than 5,100. These universities include Harvard University, Stanford University, Yale University, Cornell University and Brandeis University, according to a press release from StrongHouse.
“The attacks from the Trump administration completely disregard the law governing federal funds,” Leonard said. “Very few universities can resist that kind of leverage on their own, but a coalition of strong universities across the country can resist that leverage, and that’s what we think is essential to pursue.”
These letters come amid the Trump administration’s escalating confrontation with Harvard, the nation’s oldest and wealthiest university.
U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem sent a letter to Harvard Wednesday threatening to block the university from enrolling international students after Harvard refused to comply with the Trump administration’s previous demands — one of which stipulated the university audit views of diversity on campus.
“The Trump administration is making extraordinarily intrusive demands of universities,” Leonard said. “What’s at stake for students is simply being able to get an education that is informed by the freest possible inquiry … and their ability to collectively learn without feeling that anyone is looking over their shoulder.”
Leonard said solidarity is key to preserving the tenants of free scholarship in America.
“Solidarity among faculty and solidarity among universities and solidarity among students is all going to be essential for us to preserve the incredibly important institutions of free society that are our universities,” Leonard said.
