Earlier this month, the Trump administration broke news about plans to freeze $510 million of Brown’s federal funding. The threatened cuts are nothing short of extortion, an attempt to use the power of federal research dollars to force universities like Brown into policy changes that would destroy their autonomy and betray their missions. While the loss of research grants would be detrimental to Brown’s budget, that short-term hardship pales in comparison to the long-term cost of forsaking core principles, both for Brown and our society at large.
Brown’s 1966 statement on Academic Freedom “affirms that faculty members and students alike shall enjoy full freedom in their teaching, learning and research.” I can’t think of a more important moment in the University’s history to ensure this commitment is defended.
In response to these attacks, more than 1000 Brown alumni have signed a petition calling on the University to refuse any of the Trump administration’s demands that would weaken academic freedom, free speech or student safety. Here are why some alums signed the petition:
Tim David-Lang ’94
What has moved me to sign this today is the Trump administration’s demand that the Internal Revenue Service turn over tax filing information to ICE. This will affect many of the families that I work with as a New York City public school guidance counselor, making it even harder for their children to attend public colleges. When confronted, we must stand together.
Bess McKinney ’02
I am a high school educator. When my students tell me they want to attend my alma mater, I feel proud to say that it’s an amazing place where I learned to think about the world and what matters. The world and what matters is at stake today, and we need institutions like Brown to stand up to the bullying and the anti-intellectualism of the Trump administration. For those future students, Brown must not give in to fear and cowardice but maintain its dedication to diversity, equity and inclusion.
Paul VanDeCarr ’91
I urge Brown to stand up for the values I and so many others learned there, such as compassion, inclusivity and inquiry. Fighting for those values now might come at a great financial cost, but it is a necessary fight, both for Brown and for the country. Make your students and alumni proud!
Alisa Algava ’95.5
This is an unprecedented moment in which Brown must live up to the principles it so boldly and proudly has helped generations of students to learn. We must authentically and collectively care for one another in order to preserve the possibility of democracy and, ultimately, justice. Please, Brown, stand on the right side of history. There is no other option.
Beverly Naigles ’15
I’m a scientist and depend on research grants. I can easily imagine the difficult position researchers at Brown find themselves in and the concern over losing grants. At the same time, as I watch other universities capitulate to these illegal demands, I know that some universities need to stand up and fight back together, and Brown is an institution that should have the courage to do so. Brown standing up and fighting would make me a proud Brunonian!
Nick Goelz ’15
The attack on immigrants is completely antithetical to everything I value and stand for. As a high school teacher at a Title I school in California, I interact with students every day who are in vulnerable positions. Every capitulation from a university, business or politician puts those students slightly more at risk as the current administration slowly asserts absolute power over larger portions of American life. To echo the famous quote, first they came for the immigrants. Will we fail to speak out as we are not immigrants?
Janice Bloom ’91
Brown was the place that I learned to be a citizen, an activist and an intellectual. Everything that I learned there and have learned since has prepared me to understand that the Trump administration is leading us down the road to fascism. It is the responsibility of both citizens and institutions that believe in democracy to take a stand at this moment. This John Lewis quote sits on my dresser and I look at it every day: “Democracy is not a state. It is an act and each generation must do its part.” It is time for all of us to do our part, however difficult and risky. I hope Brown will not disappoint me and so many of the other activists that it raised.
Noelani Mussman ’00
The beauty of Brown is in the institution’s embrace of diversity of thought and practice. Caving to this administration’s agenda of hate and not standing up for diversity, equity and inclusion and the access it provides for so many is contrary to what Brown stands for. True character shows up in moments of adversity. This is Brown’s moment to shine.
Jessica Stone Levy ’83
Giving in to President Trump and Elon Musk’s demands would force me to reconsider my annual donation to Brown, which is no doubt minimal compared to the gifts of others. More importantly, however, it would cause me to reconsider my pride in the institution and all I believe that it has stood for.
Daniel Souweine ’01 can be reached at dsouweine@gmail.com. Please send responses to this op-ed to letters@browndailyherald.com and other opinions to opinions@browndailyherald.com
