Texas is about to ban talking on college campuses at night. Seriously. This proposed law, Senate Bill 2972, aims to prohibit “engaging in expressive activities on campus between the hours of 10 p.m. and 8 a.m.” The sheer breadth of this ban is staggering; it encompasses virtually any form of communication or expression, from casual conversation to writing a paper, posting online, or even wearing a t-shirt with a message.
This isn’t just about quiet hours; it’s about silencing any and all expressive conduct protected under the First Amendment. The potential impact is enormous, impacting students’ ability to study together, participate in late-night discussions, or even simply socialize.… Continue reading
The U.S. Department of Education’s announcement that Columbia University allegedly violated federal anti-discrimination laws by failing to protect Jewish students has sparked a firestorm of debate. The department’s notification to the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, the accrediting body, claims this failure constitutes a breach of accreditation standards. This action, however, is viewed by many as a highly politicized move, raising serious concerns about the integrity of the accreditation process itself.
The situation highlights a broader struggle between the government and institutions of higher learning. The perception that the Department of Education is wielding its authority to punish perceived political dissent, rather than objectively assessing adherence to accreditation standards, is fueling the controversy.… Continue reading
New legislation in Texas grants university governing boards expanded authority over curriculum, allowing them to revise general education requirements and eliminate low-enrollment programs. This follows similar actions in states like Ohio and Florida, reflecting a broader conservative effort to reshape higher education. Critics argue these measures infringe upon academic freedom and represent an overreach of state control into university affairs, while proponents frame them as necessary to ensure curricula align with workforce needs and avoid liberal bias. The trend is fueled by national political pressures and mirrors past efforts to restrict diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.
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The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has mandated that its physicians and scientists require pre-approval from political appointees before publishing in medical journals or speaking publicly. This directive, issued following the publication of a critical article in the New England Journal of Medicine, requires coordination with the VA’s public affairs office for all media engagements. The policy, while claimed to be longstanding, is seen by critics as censorship, particularly given concurrent efforts to restrict scientific research funding and publication. The authors of the article, which highlighted the negative impact of VA budget cuts on veterans’ healthcare, reported receiving support from colleagues despite the administration’s actions.
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The Trump administration is targeting Harvard University, threatening to revoke its ability to enroll international students and freeze billions in federal funding. These actions, framed as addressing issues like campus bias and foreign influence, are viewed by Harvard as unconstitutional attacks on academic freedom. Harvard has filed lawsuits and is resisting the administration’s demands, arguing the actions represent a broader attempt to intimidate and control institutions of higher learning. The conflict pits the long-standing university against a president seeking to reshape American higher education, with significant implications for academic freedom and the future of US universities.
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The Trump administration is scrutinizing all Harvard University visa holders, not just students, following a DHS attempt to block international student enrollment. This investigation, encompassing business and tourist visas, aims to uncover security vulnerabilities and potential system abuses. The actions stem from a broader dispute over alleged antisemitism, pro-terrorist conduct, and Harvard’s resistance to administrative demands for governance reforms. This conflict involves billions in withheld federal funding and legal challenges from Harvard, citing violations of constitutional rights and academic freedom.
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Donald Trump, citing Harvard’s high percentage of international students (27.2%), demanded the university disclose their identities and home countries, questioning why those nations don’t contribute financially to their education. This follows the Trump administration’s attempts to block Harvard from enrolling foreign students and revoke its federal funding, actions a federal court temporarily halted. The administration’s actions stem from a broader effort to review universities’ federal funds and have been criticized as a politically motivated attack on higher education. Harvard has countered these accusations, emphasizing the significant contributions international students make to the university and the nation.
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In a significant escalation of its conflict with Harvard University, the Trump administration revoked the university’s ability to enroll international students. This action followed disagreements over a records request stemming from a Department of Homeland Security investigation. The move is expected to result in further legal action from Harvard, adding to the ongoing lawsuit challenging administration-imposed changes to the university’s operations. This action directly targets a major funding source for the institution.
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NYU withheld Logan Rozos’s diploma after he delivered an anti-war commencement speech condemning Israel’s actions in Gaza, characterizing them as genocide supported by the U.S. The university stated Rozos violated his agreement by delivering a speech differing from his promised content and used his platform to express personal political views. This action follows previous incidents where NYU has faced criticism for suppressing anti-war speech and allegedly yielding to pressure from pro-Israel groups. Rozos’s student profile was subsequently removed from the NYU website.
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After over six weeks in Louisiana immigration detention, Tufts University student Rumeysa Ozturk returned to Boston. Her release followed a federal judge’s order, concluding that the government provided no evidence justifying her arrest beyond an op-ed she co-authored criticizing her university’s response to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Ozturk, who maintains her innocence, will continue her legal case, asserting that her detention violated her constitutional rights, including free speech. The judge’s ruling was later upheld by a federal appeals court, allowing her to participate remotely in Louisiana proceedings while continuing her doctoral studies.
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Matt Underwood 
John Q. Hosedrinker