Following a student’s submission of a paper labeling transgender people as “demonic” and gender roles as “Biblically ordained,” the University of Oklahoma placed a trans graduate instructor on administrative leave. The instructor, who graded the paper with a zero for failing to meet academic criteria, received backlash from the student and right-wing media outlets. The university, after receiving a religious discrimination complaint, initiated a review process, supported by a statement from Governor Kevin Stitt. This has escalated the situation into a statewide debate concerning LGBTQ+ inclusion and the boundaries of academic freedom.
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A US District Court issued a preliminary injunction preventing the government from withholding federal funding from UCLA and other University of California schools. The ruling stemmed from a suit challenging the Trump administration’s efforts to force UCLA into policy revisions using accusations of antisemitism as justification for funding cuts. The court found this approach violated legal procedures and First Amendment rights. The decision provides relief for the UC system and establishes a precedent for other universities to resist similar government actions.
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Documents reveal China employed a campaign of intimidation against Sheffield Hallam University to suppress research on alleged human rights abuses. This involved threats to university staff in China by individuals linked to the Chinese government, and website blocks that hindered student recruitment. Sheffield Hallam eventually decided against publishing Professor Laura Murphy’s research and asked her to halt her investigation after pressure and a defamation suit. Following legal action by Prof. Murphy, the university apologized and allowed her to resume her work, though the incident raised concerns about academic freedom and foreign interference.
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Texas Governor Greg Abbott has announced plans to target university professors accused of promoting “leftist ideologies,” signaling a shift towards increased scrutiny of educational content. This move follows an audit of courses within the University of Texas System focusing on transgender and identity-related topics. Furthermore, these actions are taking place against a backdrop of incidents where educators have faced repercussions for discussing gender and sexual orientation. While the state currently lacks specific legislation prohibiting such discussions at the university level, there is a “Don’t Say Gay” law in place for grades K-12, causing trans and nonbinary students in Texas to report increased intolerance and harassment.
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MIT became the first university to reject the Trump administration’s “Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education,” which offered preferential access to federal funding in exchange for adhering to the administration’s higher education agenda. President Sally Kornbluth cited concerns about limitations on freedom of expression and the undermining of the university’s independence, arguing that scientific funding should be based on merit alone. The compact, sent to nine universities, proposed capping international student enrollment, freezing tuition, and mandating the adoption of federal gender definitions, along with prohibiting policies deemed to “belittle” conservative ideas. While the University of Texas System expressed strong support, other universities like Brown, University of Virginia, Dartmouth, and University of Pennsylvania expressed concerns, setting a precedent for others to potentially follow.
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MIT has become the first university to reject President Trump’s “Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education” due to concerns over freedom of expression and institutional independence. The university’s president, Sally Kornbluth, stated that MIT’s existing values align with the principles of the compact. However, MIT disagrees with aspects of the document, particularly those that would restrict freedom of expression and independence. MIT’s decision to decline the invitation has been applauded by the university community and others, including Amnesty International USA.
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MIT became the first university to reject the Trump administration’s “Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education” after its president, Sally Kornbluth, stated the school already meets many of the federal government’s standards. The compact, sent to nine universities, tied access to federal funds to conditions such as limiting international student enrollment and restricting tuition rates. Kornbluth expressed concern that the compact’s provisions would restrict academic freedom and that scientific funding should be based on merit. Other universities, including Brown and Dartmouth, are still considering their responses.
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Mark Bray, a Rutgers University professor known for his expertise on anti-fascism, faced mounting threats to his life, including death threats and a leaked address, prompting him to attempt to flee the country. He was stopped at the gate and told his reservation had been canceled. Bray’s work, including his book *Antifa: The Anti-Fascist Handbook*, led to calls for his firing from a Turning Point USA chapter, while he maintained that he was not affiliated with Antifa groups. Despite the university’s commitment to a secure environment, Bray and his family have moved to Europe as his classes will be pre-recorded.
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California Governor Gavin Newsom stated that any California university accepting the Trump administration’s “Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education” would immediately lose state funding. The proposed compact, offered to select universities, mandates the closure of departments deemed hostile to conservative ideas, restricts international student enrollment, enforces a specific definition of gender, and bans the consideration of race or sex in hiring and admissions in exchange for federal grants. Newsom’s office characterized the compact as a “hostile takeover,” citing concerns about government-mandated ideology and the potential for academic freedom erosion. The compact, which includes stipulations such as tuition freezes and restrictions on political speech, would lead to a loss of billions of dollars in state funding, including Cal Grants, for any participating California university.
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US memo to colleges proposes terms on ideology, foreign enrollment for federal funds, and it’s causing quite a stir, as you might imagine. The whole thing smacks of… well, let’s just say a lot of folks aren’t thrilled. The core of the issue is a proposed set of terms that colleges would have to agree to in order to receive federal funding. These terms reportedly touch on two major areas: the ideological bent of the institutions and the number of foreign students they enroll.
Now, the idea of the government trying to influence the ideological leanings of universities… that’s where things start to get tricky.… Continue reading
John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood