MIT Stands Firm Against Trump's Higher Education Compact

MIT has made a bold move by rejecting a proposal from the White House. This proposal, called the "Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education, " was sent to nine universities. It included demands like limiting international students, freezing tuition, and defining gender in specific ways. MIT's president, Kornbluth, said the compact goes against the university's belief that scientific funding should be based on merit, not politics. The White House sees this compact as a way to improve higher education. But MIT and other universities view it as an attempt to control academic freedom. Faculty and students at MIT have been vocal about their concerns. They believe the compact would betray the university's values. More than a dozen student groups and two academic departments have expressed their opposition. Other universities have responded differently. Some, like the University of Texas, are eager to review the deal. Others, like Brown and Dartmouth, have seen protests and petitions against it. Harvard is still in negotiations with the Trump administration, which has already taken actions against the university, including pulling research funding and threatening its tax-exempt status. MIT's rejection could have serious consequences. The university receives a lot of federal funding for research. If the government decides to cut that funding, MIT could face significant budget cuts. Despite this risk, MIT's community stands united. They believe that academic freedom and merit-based funding are worth fighting for. In her letter, Kornbluth highlighted that MIT already meets many of the compact's conditions. For example, MIT doesn't have legacy preferences in admissions and has policies that support merit-based education. She also expressed hope that the long-standing partnership between MIT and the federal government will continue. The situation is tense, and the outcome is uncertain. But one thing is clear: MIT is not backing down. The university is prepared to face the consequences of its decision. And it's calling on other universities to stand with them. The fight for academic freedom and merit-based funding is far from over.