Faculty members from US universities, including those without endowments, are uniting to push back against the Trump administration’s assaults on academic freedoms. Indiana University’s Bloomington faculty council recently adopted a resolution to form a mutual defense compact with all 18 universities in the Big 10 academic alliance, aiming to safeguard autonomy, research integrity, and free speech in higher education.

The resolution emphasizes that attacks on one university’s integrity are a concern for all alliance members, signaling a collective commitment to defending academic principles. This initiative was spurred by escalating politically motivated actions that threaten the core tenets of American higher education.

The move follows the controversial firing of cybersecurity professor Xiaofeng Wang, a Chinese national with no criminal charges, after FBI and Homeland Security raids on his home. Wang’s dismissal, in violation of university policy, drew condemnation from faculty and academic groups, highlighting the importance of due process and presumption of innocence.

The proposed pact would involve convening university leaders to establish a defense fund for supporting institutions facing political or legal challenges. This proactive stance is a response to Trump’s targeting of universities for alleged civil rights violations and antisemitism, including investigations into schools like Indiana University, University of Washington, and Penn State University.

Despite pressure from the administration, universities like Harvard have resisted demands to alter policies on diversity and student groups, drawing support from figures like Barack Obama. The unfolding tensions underscore the critical need for higher education institutions to defend academic freedoms and institutional autonomy in the face of political interference.