WSJ Opinion: Potomac Watch The Trump 'Compact' Tells Colleges to Protect Speech and Freeze Tuition
14 snips
Oct 7, 2025 Colin Levy, an editorial board member at The Wall Street Journal focusing on education policy, teams up with Kim Strassel, a columnist who critiques higher-education culture. They dive into the Trump Administration's compact, which incentivizes nine universities to reform their admission processes, enforce campus free speech, and tackle grade inflation. The conversation sparks debate over federal overreach and the implications of tying federal funds to these institutions, especially regarding international student caps and potential audits.
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Law Vs. New Federal Mandates
- The compact mixes routine legal enforcement with coercive new rules on admissions and speech.
- Some provisions reinforce existing Supreme Court precedent while others expand federal oversight into campus life.
Marketplace Of Ideas And Neutrality
- The compact emphasizes restoring a marketplace of ideas and protecting students from intimidation.
- It advocates institutional neutrality so universities avoid taking official stances on geopolitical issues.
Protect Instruction And Limit Institutional Positions
- Universities should avoid disrupting instruction and protect study spaces from protests and heckling.
- Administrations ought to limit institutional political speech to preserve academic debate and prevent coercive stances.