A coalition of universities, many of which are federally funded, may revolt against President Donald Trump’s executive orders targeting progressive initiatives in public education, according to campus activists.
Recently, members of an advisory board at Rutgers University passed a resolution to establish a “Mutual Defense Compact” among member institutions within the Big Ten Academic Alliance to collectively oppose the Trump administration’s policies. The resolution calls for Rutgers President Jonathan Holloway to lead the effort and convene a summit of academic and legal leaders within the Big Ten.
One professor interviewed by Fox News Digital remarked, “the left has found free speech.”
“These are the same individuals who would penalize members of the university community for perceived microaggressions,” said Dr. Kevin Jon Williams, a professor at Temple University.
A proposed resolution titled “Resolution to Establish a Mutual Defense Compact for the Universities of the Big Ten Academic Alliance in Defense of Academic Freedom, Institutional Integrity, and the Research Enterprise” was directed to several professors before being approved by the Rutgers University Senate.
The resolution voices concern over government actions threatening higher education principles and calls for a joint defense fund to counter legal and political threats.
The Big Ten Academic Alliance crafted the defense-compact resolution, comprising universities from the Big Ten Conference to enhance research collaboration and resources.
“Under the proposal, participating universities would contribute to a shared defense fund to provide immediate support for what they determine are legal and political infringements,” Williams added.
The resolution will be shared with all Big Ten universities and their governing bodies, with Rutgers University’s president taking a lead in initiating the implementation of the Compact.
“This document is highly politically partisan,” noted Williams, criticizing the broad condemnation of the Trump administration. The resolution raises questions about the tax-exempt status of participating universities.
The resolution’s timing coincides with the Trump administration’s scrutiny of federally funded universities, including revoking funds from Columbia University over concerns of antisemitism and challenges to diversity initiatives and transgender athlete participation in sports.
Trump also signed an executive order reducing the size of the Department of Education while maintaining control over critical functions such as funding and education policy.
