The Trump Administration has launched a frontal attack on universities as part of its effort to consolidate power across American society. Their stated reasons are fighting antisemitism and improving viewpoint diversity, but these are pretexts. Their real aim is to force ideological compliance with the MAGA world view. This is what authoritarianism looks like: using government power to suppress opposition. If you care about American democracy, you should care about the Trump Administration’s illegal extortion campaign against Brown and all of higher education.
Why Do Authoritarians Target Universities?
Universities are threats to authoritarian regimes because they seek truth, encourage debate, and train students to think critically. That’s why authoritarians around the world have worked aggressively to bring universities to heel. In Hungary, the government hollowed out Central European University. In Turkey, thousands of academics were fired or jailed. This isn’t some faraway problem—it’s a playbook Trump is trying to bring to the United States.
How are Attacks on Brown About American Democracy?
A democracy depends on institutions that are independent of political pressure: the courts, the press, universities. When universities stand up for their values, they help safeguard the very idea of independent thought in public life. Brown’s resistance isn’t just about protecting funding or prestige—it’s about defending a key space where truth and scholarship can thrive without political interference.
Can One University Really Make a Difference?
Yes. Especially if that university builds a united front with similar institutions across the country. Brown has a national and global reputation. If Brown stands strong, it shows that elite institutions can resist. That makes it harder for the next university to be bullied into submission. But if Brown gives in, it tells every public and private institution that resistance is futile.
What’s At Stake If We Stay Silent?
If we stay silent, we normalize political control over education and research. That’s the first step to silencing critical voices—not just in academia, but across society. Today it’s Brown. Tomorrow it’s your newsroom, your workplace, your neighborhood school, your community.
What Can I Do?
Pay attention and speak up. Keep tabs on how Brown is responding and let Brown’s leadership know that alumni expect them to stand firm, not just for Brown, but for the sake of American democracy. We need powerful societal institutions to stand up and fight right now —and that includes the one that shaped us.
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