Assault on University Life: Trump Administration's Continuous Assault on Students, Journalists, and Civil Rights

The Trump administration has initiated a continuous assault on university life, the First Amendment, student journalism, and civil rights, affecting students and journalists across the country. This attack is not limited to physical spaces but also extends to the policies and values that define higher education. The administration's actions have led to a backlash against diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, immigration crackdowns, and the erasure of scholarship and curricula. University administrators, such as University of Michigan President Santa Ono, have chosen to prioritize their pocketbooks over the security of their students, failing to deliver on the assumption that universities will look out for them.

Key Takeaways:

• The Trump administration has dangled $400 million of federal funding in front of universities, forcing them to make concessions such as banning protesting students from wearing face masks, hiring additional security personnel, and reviewing their Middle Eastern studies departments.
• Universities are failing to deliver for their students, prioritizing their finances over student security, and caving to the pressure of the Trump administration and wealthy benefactors.
• Diversity, equity, and inclusion programs are being assaulted, immigration officers are descending upon campuses, and LGBTQ+ protections are being stripped away, leaving students vulnerable.
• University administrators, such as University of Michigan President Santa Ono, are standing in line with the president's demands, often at the expense of student security and well-being.
• Examples include:

+ University of Maine announcing that it will not allow trans women to compete in women's sports in order to win back funding.

+ Grand Valley State University altering and cutting language in its harassment policy to fall in line with federal court rulings.

+ Ferris State University failing to address federal crackdowns, despite concerns from students and faculty.

• University administrators are not safeguarding students from federal harm, such as ICE arrests, resource cuts to marginalized students, and curricula erasure.
• Examples include:

+ The Department of Homeland Security revoking the visas of current and former students from University of Michigan, Grand Valley State University, and Central Michigan University.

+ Tufts University's president issuing a statement of support for a student who was detained for a pro-Palestine op-ed.

Statistics:

• 86 days into President Trump's term, the administration initiated a continuous assault on university life, the First Amendment, student journalism, and civil rights.
• $400 million: the amount of federal funding dangled by the Trump administration to universities in exchange for concessions.
• 3 universities: Michigan Daily, Grand Valley Lanthorn, and Ferris State Torch, which have witnessed the onslaught to varying degrees in their own backyards.
• 1: the number of university administrators, such as University of Michigan President Santa Ono, who have chosen to prioritize their pocketbooks over student security.
• 1: the number of universities, Harvard, which has refused to capitulate to the Trump administration's demands, saying it is "not prepared to agree to demands that go beyond the lawful authority of this or any administration."

Sources:

• The Eastern Echo
• Michigan Daily
• Grand Valley Lanthorn
• Ferris State Torch
• The Wall Street Journal
• GVL Hailey Hentz