Past College and University Presidents: Higher education is better, but the intervention of politically controlled government is not a solution

As former presidents of American colleges and universities, we are building a constructive dialogue with presidents on the end of the contribution of higher education, and the destructive attacks in collections and universities. The federal government is illegal to finance and retrieve the ideological conditions, official investigation, the hearing or report illegally, the 1964 civil rights act and unconstitutional under the first amendment. These threats directly carry out the main mission of colleges and universities: open dialogue, free surveys, academic integrity and priority to prevent the truth. They served as creative and innovative engines that contribute to the welfare, security, security and prosperity, security, security and prosperity, security, safety and welfare of our nations.

We support the Management Board and Presidents for collectively defending the values ​​and ideals of higher education; Academic freedom and university opposes illegal requirements and legally threatening the threat of self-control; Protect departments and programs against political threats; To protect scientists and other research in financing by providing legal and financial support to affected scientists and research units; and to promote the implementation of the culture of free expression and civil discs. We ask the American public to deal with societal forums and solve the difficulties that look at the apple materials and regional and local academic institutions.

Recent events in college campuses have increased their legitimate concerns related to independent mission and management of these schools. Academic institutions should never show any student or ideological purity of the scientist. They should not be external pressure to do this. Social justice or partisan policy issues should not prefer the main mission of colleges and universities, ie the truth, progress of knowledge and teaching responsible citizens.

However, the higher education of higher education, in the process of legally demanded during the legally, has an extremely cold impact on campus life and undermines the quality of life in the economic vitality of our society, the cultural columns, health and the people around the people. These institutions are $ 7 trillional contributions to America’s GDP Digital transactionsoccur every year; this biotechnic$ 3 trillion contribution to the Sector GDP; and 5 + trillion dollars per year Investments to AIand other developing technologies. Together, each connected closely connected with academic programming contributes to about half of American GDP mostTwo times more than the expenditure of the annual GDP growth and federal government. This Trade surplusHigher education is about 14% of the total US services compared to the combined export exports of the United States, coal, coal and natural gas. A global magnet, international student education helps $ 45 billion in the US economy. Colleges and universities are also responsible for mass increase in medium-level life, increase socio-economic mobility and prepare for millions of highly qualified workers. Their innovation and dynamism play an important role in promoting American well-being and global leadership. US colleges and universities remain the best in the world, but every attack on academic freedom threatens this to stop.

We call on the Trump management to stop the increasing attack on higher education. We encourage all of the concessions to the main institutional principles when promoting their presidents to protect their schools.

Authors:

• Edward Ayers, University of Richmond
• Kimberly Benston, Haverford College
• Lee Bollinger, Columbia University, University of Michigan
• Phil Boroughs, SJ, Holy Cross College
• Richard Brodhead, University of Duke
• Robert Brown, University of Boston
• Carol T. Christ, University of California – Berkeley
• Mary Sue Coleman, Michigan University
• Ron Crutcher, Wheaton College
• Adam Falk, Williams College
• Jonathan Fanton, New School
• Wayne Ei Frederick, Howard University
• Stephen Friedman, PACE University
• Amy Gutmann, University of Pennsylvania
• Andrew Hamilton, New York University
• Phil Hanlon, Dartmouth College
• Robert Head, University of Rockford
• Freeman Hrabowski, University of Maryland, Baltimore County
• Nan Keohane, Duke University, Wellesley College
• Brit Kirwan, University of Maryland University
• Tony Marks, Amherst College
• Gail Mellow, Laguardia Community College – New York University
• Anthony Monaco, Tufts University
• Richard Morrill, Central College
• M. Duane Nellis, Ohio University, Texas Tech University, Idaho University
• Lynn Pasquerella, Mount Holyoke College
• Laurie Patton, Middlebury College
• Gregory Prince, Hampshire College
• L. Songhardson, Colorado College
• Mark Schlissel, University of Michigan
• Jake Schrum, Southwest University, University of Texas Wesleyan
• Allen L. Sessoms, Delavar State University, DC University University, Queens College – New York University
• Donna Shalala, University of Miami, Wisconsin-Madison University, New York City University Hunter College
• Teresa Sullivan, University of Virginia
• Beverly Daniel Tatum, Spelman College
• Lara attempted, in Scripps College
• Steve Trachtenberg, George Washington University
• Daniel H. Weiss, Haverford College, Lafayette College
• Julie Wollman, University of Widener
• Meredith Woo, Sweet Briar College

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