What Next | Daily News and Analysis Who’s Winning the War on Higher Education?
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Sep 16, 2025 Sarah Brown, a senior editor at the Chronicle of Higher Education, dives into the escalating conflict between political ideology and academic freedom. She highlights the narrative of colleges as indoctrination centers and examines how federal funding is being weaponized against universities. Brown discusses the political shifts that pressure institutions on issues like gender identity and the impact on marginalized groups. She also sheds light on the responses of educational leaders at prestigious universities to navigate these turbulent waters.
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Politicized View Of Campus Indoctrination
- The Trump administration and many state politicians view colleges as centers of liberal indoctrination and are using funding and oversight to force change.
- That perception drives federal and state actions that threaten academic freedom and academic curricula.
Viral Video Sparks Rapid Firings
- At Texas A&M a viral video of a literature class led to a professor's firing and administrative shakeup within days.
- The episode created a chilling effect, especially for professors teaching race and gender topics.
Elite Schools Making Concessions
- Some elite universities agreed to the administration's interpretations, for example on sex categories and oversight of Middle East studies.
- Those concessions alarm academics who see external monitors and policy changes as government intrusion into scholarship.