When things are going well, there are many things in our lives that we take for granted. It’s like flying an aircraft in clear skies on autopilot. We zone out, taking in the scenery, losing sight of the myriad of complex calculations being done on our behalf by the computer. But, when severe turbulence causes the autopilot to disengage, we must jump into action to take back manual control. The same principle applies to higher education institutions navigating today’s political landscape: When external forces threaten to destabilize the seemingly balanced equilibrium between modern research universities and the federal government, we must take the controls, assess the situation and safely fly our aircraft to our destination.
The current administration’s attack on research university funding may have an ulterior motive: to limit the impact of institutions that hold the highest concentrations of historical opposition to conservative viewpoints. By understanding the intricate relationship between government and higher education, we can reclaim our agency and become active participants in this rebalancing. But if we overlook the mechanisms of federal control, we remain dangerously unaware of the forces at work in this fight.
We must first appreciate the fundamental distinction between rights and privileges that should guide us in responding to these changes. Educational institutions were designed as spaces of academic freedom. While universities have historically had the right to operate free from government overreach, by accepting and relying on large amounts of research funding from the federal government, universities, including Brown, have accepted the strings that come attached to that money. Since much of the federal funds in question originate from the taxpayer, Brown and its peer institutions have become subject to the changing views of the voter. Despite having limited options for alternative funding, receiving taxpayer funds is a privilege. While we can and should lobby for change, we must recognize that this is still a reliance of our choosing.
To retain the autonomy and integrity of our institution, we must be prepared to consider independent funding opportunities. This could include retaining partial ownership of Brown-originated intellectual property, which has the potential for value creation. Brown is investing in online master’s programs, a very high profit, strategic effort to leverage our educational credentialing power. Additionally, the University could always increase fundraising efforts from private donors.
There is a growing sentiment of frustration on campus, but it is often misdirected. Some students and faculty have lost faith in our institution, channeling their anger inward rather than recognizing the broader threat. But when we embrace cynicism and turn against the very institution fighting for us, the adversary wins. The reality is that Brown holds more power than any of us as individuals. History has shown that strong institutions play a crucial role in resisting outside influence. The power to defend ourselves does not come from individual voices alone, but from collective action and institutional resilience.
The Brown Daily Herald itself is a financially-independent institution that does not receive funding from the University. Part of the motivation behind this choice is that it allows us to publish independent viewpoints without fear or favor. By the same logic, it has become evident that Brown requires this same freedom from the influence of the government.
The political storm will undoubtedly continue to rage, and while we may experience wind shear and updrafts that cause rapid altitude fluctuations, the University should fight to stay on course. Brown must fortify its values, acquire independent funds and resist being manipulated into internal division. It is imperative that we do not acquiesce. The preservation of higher education depends on our ability to navigate these turbulent times — not by yielding to the external environment, but by steering deliberately toward the future we believe in.
Meher Sandhu ’25 can be reached at meher_sandhu@brown.edu. Please send responses to this column to letters@browndailyherald.com and op-eds to opinions@browndailyherald.com.
