Universities Need a New Defense
Preview:
American research universities are facing increasing political and regulatory pressure that threatens their independence, funding, and ability to pursue knowledge, and the author argues that traditional defenses of academic freedom are no longer enough. Universities must clearly articulate their essential role in a free society and democracy, align leadership and governance around that mission, and actively resist efforts to control teaching and research through funding or policy in order to protect scholarly inquiry for the long term.
Originally published: January 6, 2026
Author: Lee C. Bollinger
Position: President Emeritus
Institution: Columbia University
Published by: The Chronicle of Higher Ed