A few weeks ago, I had the extraordinary opportunity to discuss my work — the role of faith and struggle in democratic politics — with a group of students at the University of San Diego. Despite being in sunny California, we found ourselves drawn to the troubling question: What will we do when our universities are under siege?
In thinking about this question, I’ve found myself drawn to the words of W.E.B. Du Bois. They are not just reflections from the past — they are the words of the hour: “How shall integrity face oppression? What shall honesty do in the face of deception, decency in the face of insult, self-defense before blows?” These words, penned in 1957 in “The Ordeal of Mansart,” were not meant merely as philosophical musings. They capture the existential urgency of moral action in times of crisis. For universities — the institutions charged with producing knowledge, fostering critical thinking and cultivating democratic citizenship — the current moment is existential. Institutions such as Brown must take action by building coalitions and actively engaging in the free exchange of ideas.
The Trump administration’s recent attacks on higher education reveal a coordinated effort to reshape our universities in ways that will permanently alter their mission. Universities are being cast as adversaries, rather than the vital engines of democratic life which they have been. Instead of spaces of inquiry and rigorous debate, some would like to see them hollowed out, reduced to little more than technical job-training centers. This is not reform — it is an attempt to dismantle the very foundations of higher education’s public mission.
We see the playbook: undermine public confidence in higher education, defund and defang its institutions and use the language of fairness to mask a broader political agenda. If this effort succeeds, the question will not merely be whether academic freedom survives but whether universities will continue to exist as spaces of dissent, discovery and democratic renewal.
Courage is now required.
Universities must recognize that courage is not solely about the bravery of a single institution. Instead, courage is shaped and sustained by a collective sense of responsibility, acknowledging that the burdens of resistance are lightened when shared. Institutions — such as Brown — must form alliances with other significantly resourced universities, civil rights organizations and legal advocacy groups. A unified front can amplify concerns and more effectively pressure policymakers to protect higher education in the long term.
In addition to forming coalitions, universities must actively engage in public discourse to highlight the importance of academic freedom and the potential dangers of governmental overreach. This means using every platform available — public statements, media engagement, faculty-led forums, student activism and strategic political testimony. By leaning into these values, universities can garner public support and underscore their role as bastions of democracy. This requires leadership that does not shrink in the face of political intimidation but instead reaffirms its commitment to the principles of free thought, inquiry and dissent.
Courage is not an abstract virtue but a practical necessity. It requires us to speak when silence is the safer option, defend institutions of learning and critique and refuse to let fear dictate the limits of our moral imagination. Our universities, legal frameworks and advocacy networks must be activated, not just defended, for the road ahead will demand more than indignation. It will require action. The courage to stand together, forge alliances, speak out and insist on academic freedom is the only way forward.
If universities fail to act now, they may soon find themselves without the power, resources or moral credibility to act at all. History will not judge universities by the threats they faced but by how they chose to respond. The moment is here. Brown, what will you do?
Melvin Rogers is a professor of political science and associate director of the Center for Philosophy, Politics and Economics. He can be reached at melvin_rogers@brown.edu. Please send responses to this op-ed to letters@browndailyherald.com and other op-eds to opinions@browndailyherald.com.
