As former presidents of American colleges and universities who are deeply concerned with the contribution of higher education in our country, we call on the Trump administration to end the devastating attacks on colleges and universities and hold a constructive dialogue with the Board of Directors and Presidents on university judgment and educational guidelines. The trusted federal government threats to withdraw financing and ideological conditions that it called the return of the funds that were withdrawn – before the official investigation, listening or reporting – are illegal under the 1964 Civil Rights Law and the inability to constitutionality under the first amendment. These threats are directly prescribed the basic task of colleges and universities: defining the priorities of open dialogue, free inquiries, academic integrity, and an unrestricted pursuit of truth. The colleges and universities of our nation were the creativity and innovation engines, which contributed greatly more than its costs to prosperity, safety, security, the well -being of the Americans and our nation.

We support the secretaries of the board of directors and presidents because they collectively defend the values ​​and such as higher education; Resistance and challenge illegal law demands that threaten academic freedom and university self -government; Protecting departments and programs from political threats; Maintaining science and other research from financing discounts by providing legal and financial support to affected scientists and research units; And enhance the practice of freedom of expression and the culture of civil discourse. We ask the American public to produce in the form of community forums and find solutions to the challenges facing their citizens, as well as their regional and local academic institutions.

We realize that the recent events on the university campus raises legitimate concerns about the independent task and governance of these schools. Academic institutions should never insist that any student or researcher displays ideological purity. They should not be subjected to external pressure to do so. The issues of social justice or the priority partisan policy should not take the basic task of colleges and universities, which is to seek to achieve truth and progress in knowledge and teach responsible citizens.

However, arbitrary attacks on higher education – which have been legally classified on due legal procedures – had a chilling effect on the life of campus and undermining unique contributions to higher education in the vitality of the economic nation, the American technological leadership, to the cultural columns of our society, health care, and the quality of life in societies throughout the country. The economic contributions of these institutions in US GDP support $ 7 trillion in Digital transactionsThat happens every year; the BiotechnologyThe contribution of the 3 trillion dollar sector to the gross domestic product of the United States; And 5 dollars on annually Investments to artificial intelligenceAnd other emerging techniques. Together, these industries, which are closely related to academic programming, contribute to about half of the American GDP, at the expense MajorityAnnual GDP growth, and the federal government spending is twice. the Trade surplusFor higher education, approximately 14 % of the total surplus of the American services trade – export formatively made up of soybeans, coal and natural gas. Global magnet, international students’ studies contribute 45 billion dollars to the US economy. Colleges and universities are also responsible for increasing the average age of average age, improving social and economic movement, obtaining opportunities, and training millions of high skills workers. Their innovation and dynamism plays a fundamental role in promoting American prosperity and global leadership. American colleges and universities remain the best in the world, but every attack on their academic freedom threatens this position.

We call on the Trump administration to stop its increasingly devastating attack on higher education. We encourage all trustees councils to avoid concessions towards basic institutional principles while encouraging their presidents to speak in defense of their schools.

Authors:

• Edward Aires, University of Richmond
• Kimberly Benston, Haraford College
• Lee Bolinger, University of Colombia, University of Michigan
• Phil Boroughs, SJ, The College of the Holy Cross
• Richard Broadheed, Duke University
• Robert Brown, Boston University
• Carol T. Christ, University of California – Berkeley
• Mary Suuman, Michigan University
• Ron Crotcher, Witon College
• Adam Falk, Williams College
• Jonathan Fanton, the new school
• Wayne i Frederick, Howard University
• Stephen Friedman, University of Pace
• Amy Gutman, University of Pennsylvania
• Andrew Hamilton, New York University
• Phil Hanlon, Dartmouth College
• Robert Heid, Rockford University
• Freeman Herpovsky, University of Maryland, Baltimore County
• Nan Kayhan, Duke University, Wilsley College
• Brett Kirwan, Maryland University system
• Tony Marx, Amrist College
• Gille Melin, Legumia Community College – New York City University
• Anthony Monaco, University of Tats
• Richard Morel, Center College
• M. Duane Nellis, Ohio University, Texas University of Technology, Idahu University
• Lynn Passarella, Hollyuk Mountain College
• Lori Patton, Middpeberry College
• Gregory Prince, Hampsheer College
• to. Song Richardson, Colorado College
• Mark Schlesil, University of Michigan
• Jake Sheroum, South West University, University of Texas Weslian
• Allen L. Sessoms, Dilayer State University, Capital University system, Queens College – New York City University
• Donna Shala, Miami University, Wisconsin Madison University, Hunter College at New York City University
• Theresa Sullivan, University of Virginia
• Beverly Daniel Tatum, Faculty of Salman
• Try Lara, Skrips College
• Steve Tuchachtberg, George Washington University
• Daniel e. Weiss, Haraford College, Lavaite College
• Jolly Walman, Widner University
• Meridith Wu, Prayer Al -Hilweh College

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2025-04-08 18:41:00