The University That Chose Surrender
Preview:
The painful message delivered by the humbling of wealthy and prestigious universities is that higher education, on its own, has few tools with which to push back against governmental overreach. There are, as always, “the courts,” but that road leads ultimately to a Supreme Court that seems quite comfortable with our slouch toward autocracy. For now, for most institutions, the best option seems to be to try to avoid notice, to make only the least damaging concessions, and to hope, like Mr. Micawber, that “something will turn up.” As the impact of recent legislation and of efforts to undermine accreditation becomes more widespread, this option will become more challenging for more colleges.
Originally published: July 23, 2025
Author: Brian Rosenberg
Position: President Emeritus
Institution: Macalester College
Published by: The Chronicle of Higher Ed