On April 22, 2025, the American Association of Colleges and Universities (AACU) released a statement signed by hundreds of university and college presidents opposing government intrusion into institutions of higher education. The signatories included presidents from both public and private universities, many of which have faced direct attacks from the Trump administration. While the number of signatories has grown to more than 500 since the statement’s publication, WashU’s Chancellor Andrew Martin has yet to sign the letter.

On April 3, 2025, the Student Life editorial board called on the administration to stand in stark opposition to the Trump administration’s suppression of free speech and the deportation of immigrants. This letter is a clear means for WashU to affirm its support for academic freedom, immigrant rights, and democracy.

While Chancellor Martin has spoken publicly in support of academic freedom and “freedom of speech,” his inaction speaks louder than words. The administration should not attempt to distance itself from this threat by withholding a statement. All universities are being directly impacted by the government’s actions. At WashU, research programs and faculty face uncertainty over funding, and some students have seen their Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) records terminated. 

Many faculty want Chancellor Martin to take a stronger stance against the Trump administration. A petition urging him to sign the AACU statement has gathered more than 300 signatures from faculty, staff, students, alumni, and community members. 

One of the key tactics of the Trump administration’s broader attack on democracy has been its targeting of higher education. The president recently signed an executive order aimed at changing how colleges become accredited, claiming it will “create a competitive marketplace.” The federal government is threatening to cut funding to universities for participation in DEI efforts, affirmative action, the presence of pro-Palestine protests, and more. It has launched federal investigations into 52 universities (WashU among them) for “race-exclusionary practices.” The administration has also significantly reduced research funding, with the National Institutes of Health freezing or cutting billions of dollars in research grants to multiple universities. 

The Trump administration’s attacks on both higher education and freedom of speech are part of a broader attempt to suppress knowledge, civil discourse, and the pursuit of truth. Universities have historically been key sites for activism and resistance — and WashU is no exception.

In a Feb. 18 article, “Universities Must Reject Creeping Politicization,” and a Dec. 5 “Statement of Principles” co-written with Vanderbilt University Chancellor Daniel Diermeier, Chancellor Martin called on American universities to recommit to their core values of “Excellence,” “Academic Freedom and Free Expression,” and “Growth and Development” as “a bulwark” against their “creeping politicization.”

The irony of this statement and op-ed is strikingly clear. The affirmation of “freedom of speech” to combat politicization is a contradiction. Now more than ever, we are reminded that education is — and has always been — political. To protect the values he espouses in his statement, the chancellor must take political action. 

Silence is complicity, and our university’s silence speaks volumes about its willingness to stand up for its students, faculty, and staff when we need it most.

We call on the administration to support higher education, students, and faculty by, one, signing the AACU statement, expressing solidarity with our peer institutions and taking steps to ally with universities against these threats in the long run; two, taking a firm and public stance against the Trump administration’s actions, and outlining and implementing the steps to protect our community; three, releasing a statement expressing firm support for immigrant and international students — along with a plan of action that would be taken in the event of a deportation or deportation threats; four, allocating resources to help fill gaps in research funding caused by federal budget cuts.

We understand that the University is in a vulnerable and difficult situation amid threats of funding cuts. So are immigrant students facing the threat of deportation, faculty members at risk of retaliation for their work, and the other universities that have signed this letter, many of which face threats as serious as — or more serious than — those we face. 

Chancellor Martin, your silence will not protect us. We call on you to take decisive and political actions to defend our freedoms and our democracy.

Staff editorials reflect the opinion of the majority of our editorial board members. The editorial board operates independently of our newsroom and includes members of the senior staff.

Sylvie Richards, Managing Forum Editor

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