College Matters from The Chronicle

Jasper Smith, a staff reporter at The Chronicle of Higher Education specializing in race and higher education controversies, dives into the escalating DEI battles in Virginia. The resignation of UVA's president and the turmoil at George Mason University highlight a political firefight over diversity initiatives. Jasper discusses allegations against GMU, the implications of Gregory Washington's leadership, and how investigations are reshaping faculty sentiments. The emotional fallout on campuses brings to light deep concerns about the future of racial diversity commitments.

Beth McMurtrie, a senior writer at The Chronicle of Higher Education, delves into Harvard's striking grade inflation trend, revealing that A's accounted for 60% of all grades in 2025, a dramatic rise from 2005. She discusses how Harvard's influence on grading practices affects perceptions of higher education nationwide. The conversation touches on faculty pressures, student advocacy, and how the pandemic has shifted grading dynamics, sparking a debate on whether education should prioritize mastery or traditional evaluations.

Brock Read, deputy managing editor at The Chronicle of Higher Education, dives into the contentious topic of intellectual diversity in academia. He explores the origins of this critique from figures like William F. Buckley, examines who's currently advocating for it, and questions whether these efforts are genuine or politically motivated. Survey findings reveal faculty political leanings and potential classroom biases. Brock argues that introducing pop-culture courses could enrich intellectual diversity, bridging gaps across various viewpoints.

Join Kenneth S. Stern, director of the Center for the Study of Hate at Bard College, as he navigates the complex landscape of antisemitism on college campuses. Stern discusses the challenges of distinguishing between legitimate critique of Israeli policies and anti-Jewish sentiment. He voices concerns about the weaponization of definitions to suppress free speech and argues for educational approaches over enforcement. With insights on academic freedom and the importance of addressing both antisemitism and Islamophobia, Stern offers a thought-provoking perspective on campus discourse.

In this discussion, Andy Thomason, assistant managing editor at The Chronicle of Higher Education, delves into Barack Obama's call for college leaders to prioritize academic independence. They explore the potential impacts of the Trump administration's 'Compact for Academic Excellence,' which conditions funding on compliance with strict policies. The conversation examines how institutions like MIT resist political pressure while others, such as Columbia, yield under financial duress. The balancing act between personal risk and institutional survival takes center stage as they highlight the future of academic integrity.

In this discussion, Sarah Brown, a Senior Editor at The Chronicle of Higher Education, breaks down the Trump administration's proposed compact, which seeks to reshape federal-higher education relations. Key points include bans on race-conscious admissions, caps on international student enrollment, and mandates to eliminate departments that challenge conservative views. Sarah also addresses higher education's historical independence, current tensions in campus politics, and the potential implications for academic freedom. The compact raises significant questions about the future of American higher education.

As president of Princeton University, Christopher Eisgruber is among the highest-profile college leaders to publicly criticize the Trump administration for its attacks on higher education. He is a defender of the sector, arguing that colleges are far better at upholding free speech and more welcoming of diverse viewpoints than critics would suggest. The recent killing of Charlie Kirk, a conservative activist, has energized a national debate about the state of free speech on college campuses — both for conservatives like Kirk, and for faculty who have been sanctioned for speaking ill of Kirk in the wake of his death. None of this, though, changes Eisgruber’s fundamental view that colleges, for the most part, are actually quite good at facilitating tough conversations at a particularly polarized moment. It’s an argument Eisgruber lays out methodically in a new book, Terms of Respect: How Colleges Get Free Speech Right.Related Reading Terms of Respect: How Colleges Get Free Speech Right, by Christopher Eisgruber (Basic Books) With Charlie Kirk’s Killing, a New Chapter of the Campus Speech Wars Has Begun (The Chronicle) The Elite-University Presidents Who Despise One Another (The Atlantic) At Yale, Painful Rifts Emerge Over Diversity and Free Speech (The Chronicle)

Stephanie M. Lee, a senior writer at The Chronicle of Higher Education, delves into the Trump administration's drastic cuts to federal research funding. She discusses the impact on vital studies in vaccine hesitancy, gender identity, and climate change, revealing how politicized funding is reshaping the research landscape. Lee highlights the economic repercussions for communities, the practical harms of halted research, and the long-term fears among scientists regarding career stability and U.S. scientific leadership. This conversation uncovers the precarious future of academic research.

Christopher F. Rufo, a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute, shares his journey from left-leaning beliefs to conservative activism. He discusses his successful campaigns against diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, arguing they serve elite interests. Rufo dives into race and admissions, advocating for colorblind standards while recognizing race's social context. He reflects on high-profile controversies, including Claudine Gay's resignation, and reveals his influence on government policies aimed at reshaping higher education.

The fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk, whose political movement targeted liberal faculty and pushed the boundaries of free speech, immediately took on powerful symbolic resonance as a pivotal event in higher education’s long-running culture wars. Kirk, who founded Turning Point USA, a provocative right-leaning group popular on college campuses, was killed on Wednesday during a campus speaking engagement at Utah Valley University. His death shocked the country, lending a dark gravity to already-contentious debates about political polarization, intolerance, and free expression on college campuses.Related Reading Making of a Martyr: Charlie Kirk’s Killing Silences a Conservative Voice. His Movement Could Grow Louder. (The Chronicle)  Inside a Stealth Plan for Political Influence (The Chronicle)  Was an Instructor's Firing a Violation Academic Freedom? Or an Example of 'Academic Responsibility' (The Chronicle) Charlie Kirk Was Practicing Politics the Right Way (The New York Times)  GuestNell Gluckman, senior reporter at The Chronicle of Higher Education For more on today’s episode, visit chronicle.com/collegematters. We aim to make transcripts available within a day of an episode’s publication.