College Presidents Are Right to Defy Trump’s War on Higher Education
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College presidents across the United States are standing united in their belief that the Trump administration is actively targeting higher education. A survey conducted at the Yale Higher Education Leadership Summit revealed that an overwhelming 94% of college and university presidents agree that the administration's policies are hostile towards academic institutions. Key concerns raised included attacks on admissions processes, academic curricula, endowments, research funding, and freedom of expression on campuses.
In response to these challenges, college presidents are developing strategic measures to counteract these attacks. Despite facing pressure to maintain "institutional neutrality," these leaders are voicing their concerns and actively working towards safeguarding the values and integrity of higher education in the country. Additionally, there is strong opposition among the surveyed presidents towards the proposed taxation of university endowments, with 83% of respondents expressing disagreement with such a policy.
The need for defiance and resistance arises from the fear of eroding fundamental aspects of higher education, including academic freedom and institutional autonomy. Recent executive orders issued by the Trump administration, particularly those targeting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs, have further fueled concerns among university leaders. The directive to investigate institutions receiving federal grants and potential repercussions for failing to comply with the order have raised alarm bells within the academic community.
While uncertainties loom over the future of higher education under a potential continuation of the Trump administration, college presidents are unwavering in their commitment to upholding the core values of academia. The assault on higher education is seen as part of a broader trend towards the erosion of academic freedom and institutional independence, fueled by right-wing efforts in various legislative bodies.
In conclusion, the defiance shown by college presidents in response to the challenges posed by the Trump administration's policies reflects a steadfast commitment to preserving the essence of higher education. Their unity and proactive stance in advocating for the integrity and values of academia serve as a crucial defense against attempts to undermine the vital role of colleges and universities in shaping the future of the nation.
美國各地的大學校長們一致認為特朗普政府正在積極瞄準高等教育，在他們的信念中保持一致。在耶魯高等教育領導峰會上進行的一項調查顯示，有壓倒性的94%的大學校長認為政府的政策對學術機構具有敵意。提出的主要擔憂包括對招生流程、學術課程、捐助、研究資助和校園言論自由的攻擊。
為了應對這些挑戰，大學校長們正在制定戰略措施來對抗這些攻擊。盡管面臨保持”機構中立”的壓力，這些領導人表達了他們的關懷，並積極努力維護該國高等教育的價值和完整性。此外，在受訪的校長中有極強烈的反對立法提出對大學捐助征稅的政策，83%的受訪者表示不同意這樣的政策。
抵抗和反抗的需求來自於對高等教育基本層面侵蝕的擔憂，包括學術自由和機構自治。特朗普政府最近頒布的行政命令，尤其是針對多元化、平等和包容性（DEI）計劃的命令，進一步加劇了大學校長們的擔憂。對接受聯邦資助的機構進行調查以及對未能遵守該命令可能產生的後果在學術界引起了警報。
盡管在特朗普政府可能繼續下去的情況下，高等教育的未來籠罩著不確定性，但大學校長們堅定不移地致力於維護學術核心價值觀。高等教育遭到攻擊被看作是向學術自由和機構獨立侵蝕的更廣泛趨勢的一部分，這是由各地立法機構中右翼力量的努力推動的。
總之，大學校長們對特朗普政府政策所帶來的挑戰所表現出的抗拒反映出他們堅定的承諾，致力於保存高等教育的本質。他們的團結和積極的立場，倡導學術的完整性和價值觀，對抵制破壞大學和學院在塑造國家未來中的至關重要角色的企圖起著至關重要的作用。