CHICAGO – Over the weekend, Northwestern University announced they had reached an agreement with the Trump Administration to restore federal funding to the school. Under the agreement, the University has agreed to pay $75 million over three years and make several other policy changes in exchange for the Trump Administration dropping a series of investigations and restoring millions of dollars in federal research funding.
In response, the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois released the following statement:
“Northwestern University sadly has tossed aside a proud tradition of academic freedom and defense of fundamental values in return for the illusion of peace with the Trump Administration. This capitulation to bullying will not serve Northwestern’s students, faculty, administration or broader community.
At a time when the Chicagoland area has witnessed first-hand the violence and lawlessness that the Trump Administration will use to enforce their policies on a community like ours, it is sad to see a local, venerable institution like Northwestern acquiesce to the same forces.
As part of its compromise, Northwestern abandoned its long-held commitment to core academic principles like free speech on campus, and agreed to align its policies around gender identity with the Trump Administration’s antiquated and discriminatory views. No one is protected – and no one gains – from these retreats.
And, of course, having now caved, the University opens itself up to further demands from the Trump Administration. The next time a scholar writes about the failure of some Trump policy, or a researcher seeks to help a population disfavored by Donald Trump, the Administration will be back with more demand and more threats.”