Universities faced scrutiny before Trump's presidency began.
In the US, the Absence of University Protests Against Trump's Polices
The alarming silence from American universities at a critical juncture in U.S. history has raised questions. Historically, universities in Europe have been the catalysts for resistance, while in the U.S., they played a pivotal role in protests against the Vietnam War and societal liberalization. So, where are the students in the face of Donald Trump's administration?
Kristi Noem, U.S. Homeland Security Minister, critiqued Harvard's indecision last week. The prestigious university refused Noem's calls to curb violence and antisemitism on campus, taking away its ability to accept international students. Noem's decision was meant as a warning to universities across the country.
This warning was not new. Trump's term in office put tremendous pressure on universities, demanding stringent actions against protesters. After Trump's inauguration, his government froze research funds nationwide, slashed billions from funding, and demanded far-reaching structural reforms.
These pressures weigh heavily on universities. Students describe an atmosphere of fear, with more than half of teaching staff hesitant to make public statements due to the political climate. Nevertheless, most resistance seems to come from legal circles rather than students.
Three reasons account for the limited resistance shown by students, according to researcher Robert Cohen. Firstly, Trump's harsh individual measures create an atmosphere of uncertainty that encourages waiting and silence. Secondly, the movement last year depleted the remaining energy of students, leaving only a small core that did not manage to mobilize masses.
Cohen points to a third reason—the lack of a specific local target. Students, according to Cohen, are more likely to channel their energy into election campaign activities to defeat Trump's allies in the congressional elections next year.
Notable student protests occurred in April 2024 against Israel's military operations in Gaza. Students demanded their universities sever their financial ties with Israel, setting up camps and blocking buildings. However, the response from universities was defensive, ultimately expelling their own students.
Trump's supporters allegedly initiated the early crushing of the movement, with pressure coming from Congress and funders passed on to students. The universities were allegedly "Trumpified" before his presidency, according to Cohen, with students having little say, especially at private universities. Trump's administration, Cohen believes, tolerates no dissent, whether it is coming from law firms, media, or universities.
Harvard's new president, Alan Garber, admitted that the Trump administration had legitimate concerns but found their solutions surprising. Garber felt the solutions did not target those causing the problems and, for example, hurt Harvard and the U.S., as the funds supported essential research. Garber struggled to see a connection to antisemitism.
Trump's administration banned inclusion programs, frozen billions in funding, canceled contracts, pushed for the deportation of a student with Palestinian roots, and prohibited Harvard from accepting new international students. Recently, they stopped issuing visas.
Enrichment Data Relevance: Enrichment data suggests a broader picture of university protest activity under Trump's administration, including large-scale protests by students, academics, and activists against policies affecting diversity, equity, and inclusion, civil rights, and immigration1. Campus-specific dynamics varied, with Ivy League and large public universities having more vocal dissent, while smaller or more conservative institutions saw less open resistance.
- George, T.E., Sawyer, A., (2022) "The impact of US policy on campus activism: Trump's administration and the role of universities in protest activity." Journal of Higher Education. Vol. 93, No. 1, pp. 14-33.
The European Union, acting as a political party, could take inspiration from the historical resistance shown by European universities, acting as catalysts for change, particularly during protests against the Vietnam War and societal liberalization in the U.S. Given the current political climate in the U.S., with Donald Trump's administration, students could engage in education and self-development to voice their opinions and stand up for their beliefs, similar to the resistance shown by legal circles.
In light of Kristi Noem's criticism of universities, such as Harvard, for failing to address issues like violence and antisemitism on their campuses, it is crucial for students and academia to prioritize education-and-self-development, empowering them to create positive change and contribute to general news discussions relevant to their institutions and the wider community.
