Trending News: US says it struck Iranian radar sites as Iran targets American forces in KuwaitIsrael Captures Beaufort Castle as It Advances Into LebanonLaos cave survivors help with plan to find last two missing menWhat I Saw Inside an Ebola WardNo deal announced after Trump meeting to make 'final determination' on IranRescuers Free Miner Trapped Inside a Cave in LaosGiants’ Abdul Carter: ‘No beef’ with Jaxson Dart over President Trump introTrump floated the idea of a 15% government stake in a massive railroad mergerStar Sightings: Olivia Rodrigo Wears a ‘Saturday Night Live’ Jacket, Emily Ratajkowski Shops in New York CityEight students arrested in Kenya after suspected deadly school arson attackOff the Bone Came Before All of ThemOpinion | In a World That Enabled Epstein, What Makes a Good Man?A Dallas Weekend That Delivers: Where to Eat, Drink, and Be SomewhereFrisco ISD band tower collapse injures three students – NBC 5 Dallas-Fort WorthCarney Outlines Plan for New U.S.-Canada RelationshipThe Pilates Class Founder Jacqui Kingswell Reveals the Biggest Misconceptions About the Celeb-Loved WorkoutTop seed Jannik Sinner wilts, bounced from French OpenMan arrested after three injured in stabbing at Swiss train stationVelocity | Sim Racing Lounge Accelerates Into Dallas with Texas’ Largest Virtual Racing VenueOpinion | Trump Wants to ‘Take Cuba.’ These Cubans Have Thoughts.Massie Visits Greene in Costa Rica for Fishing and ‘Spicy’ Political Talks – The New York TimesUganda Closes Border with Congo Over Ebola FearsKazuma Okamoto’s 6th inning homer lifts Jays over MarlinsWhat Political Issues Do Americans Hear About in Church? – Pew Research CenterMeet the founder who turned his hotel night shifts as a 14-year-old into a $2.5 billion companyWoman caught after 30 years on the run is jailed for armed robberiesTwo of America’s Thorniest Political Issues Are Dividing an Arizona Town – The New York TimesOpinion | Prison and TimeTerrell officer killing suspect gets life after guilty plea – NBC 5 Dallas-Fort WorthNo. 6 seed Daniil Medvedev upset; Frenchman Moise Kouame (age 17) advancesWeeklong Effort to Rescue 7 People From Flooded Cave ContinuesUS launches new strikes on Iran, targeting missile sites and boatsLynchburg Republicans are about to have a political showdown between 2 rival factions – Cardinal NewsJune Restaurant Deals for Graduation Season, Steakhouse Month, World Cup, and More!Tigers, Angels meet as both see reasons for optimismPope Leo Warns of A.I. Risks in His First Papal EncyclicalAmerica’s largest oil export hub is so starved of water that it’s been illegal to have a green lawn for 2 yearsDeal with US not imminent, Iran saysNew NVIDIA Jetson Orin Nano KitSecretary Rubio Says U.S. Made “Significant Progress” Toward Interim Deal with IranAfter brief stay in U.S., Tiger Woods jets back to SwitzerlandLarge-scale Russian attack on Ukraine leaves four dead and dozens injuredIt took over a decade, but NextDecade’s longshot bet to lead LNG in Texas is finally paying offDozens Killed in Coal Mine Explosion, China State Media SaysOpinion | Inside the $1.8 Billion MAGA Payout FundTigers, O’s to play Sunday doubleheader after postponementEurope Just admitted the Iran War’s price shock isn’t going awayOpinion | Now Is Not the Time to Play Political Make-Believe – The New York TimesSenegal's president sacks prime minister Sonko after months of tensionsSUMMER FINDS UNDER $200 AND THE BEST MEMORIAL DAYMaps: How Ebola Has Spread in Central Africa‘A pressure cooker ready to explode’: The wild secondaries scramble for Anthropic sharesMarlins’ Eury Perez stumbles into series-opening matchup with MetsRubio says Cuba is threat to US as Havana accuses him of 'lies'England names 2026 World Cup squad for Croatia match in Dallas – NBC 5 Dallas-Fort WorthTrump Says He Will Speak With Taiwan’s President About Arms DealSo far, Trump’s political revenge campaigns have been successful – BrookingsPolice: Eagles LB Nolan Smith clocked driving 135 mphSamsung strike on hold as workers push for AI bonusCome to FrisCON May 29-30!Beach Visitor Accidentally Crashes a Fashion Show and Becomes a StarPrices at the pump hit $4 a gallon in all 50 states—just as summer driving season beginsSpurs, Pelicans to play in Paris, Manchester in 2027Inside the next phase of OpenAI’s political strategy – PoliticoOpinion | Which Has Better Taste: A.I. or Humans?Friendly’s Serves Up a Star-Spangled Summer With Lobster Favorites, Dirty Sodas and Sweet DealsTwin Peaks Launches ‘Go for Goal Giveaway’ Ahead of Summer’s World Soccer TournamentTrump’s Greenland envoy Jeff Landry faces uphill battle on mission to make ‘friends’Gianna Corvino of The NY Archive Thinks Getting Dressed ‘Should Feel Like Making a Sandwich’Ketanji Brown Jackson says Supreme Court risks being seen as political after voting rights decision – PBSTeyana Taylor Says It’s ‘Powerful’ When Women Are Given the ‘Space’ to ‘Step Into Their Vision’Jaxon Smith-Njigba on typos on trophy: ‘It’s getting disrespectful’Ebola Cases Rise Sharply as Medical Workers Scramble for SuppliesParag Agrawal’s Parallel wants to pay publishers when AI agents use their workDickey’s Barbecue Pit Announces Restaurant Specials and Hours Ahead of Memorial Day WeekendStarbucks Korea sacks CEO over controversial 'Tank Day' promotionAbortion Pill Lawsuit Leaves Trump Silent, and in a Political Bind – The New York TimesReport: Real Madrid bringing back Jose MourinhoTimmy the Whale Found Dead In DenmarkTrump warns 'clock is ticking' for Iran as peace progress stallsBOOK REVIEW: DEFIANT (KATE PREACHER THRILLER, #3) by Michael Maloof – Frisco Online Local NewsCarolina Hurricanes Waiting Game Continues Ahead of Eastern Conference FinalsKentucky’s Curious Cast of Political Characters – The New York TimesNew NRG CEO leans into growth with ‘bring your own power’ for the AI boom and ‘virtual power plants’SOME OF MY FAVORITE LOOKS OF LATEWHO declares Ebola outbreak in DR Congo a global health emergencyCar Rams into Pedestrians in Northern Italy, Injuring at Least 8Without Cal Raleigh, Mariners seek elusive win vs. PadresOpinion | The Great Political Realignment of 2026 – The New York TimesGraham Platner Thinks a Political Revolution Is Coming – The New York TimesThe prophet of the ‘Wired Belt’ says capitalism is finally eating itselfUkrainian Drone Attacks on Russian Apartment Building Kills 4What Happens When Buddhism Is Twinned With Political Power? – The New York TimesNew outbreak of Ebola kills 80 in eastern DR CongoHow Trump’s ‘unusual’ brokerage account traded around his own market-moving decisionsOpinion | You Should Sit With BoredomChina dominates AI minerals. But one company claims the ocean floor has hundreds of years of supplyC.I.A. Director Visits Cuba Amid Energy CrisisMyles Turner flames Giannis, Bucks for lack of accountabiltyBarbecue on the Geaux! Dickey’s Barbecue Pit Opens Convenient New Fuel Station Location in Thibodaux
Mon. Jun 1st, 2026
Trending News: US says it struck Iranian radar sites as Iran targets American forces in KuwaitIsrael Captures Beaufort Castle as It Advances Into LebanonLaos cave survivors help with plan to find last two missing menWhat I Saw Inside an Ebola WardNo deal announced after Trump meeting to make 'final determination' on IranRescuers Free Miner Trapped Inside a Cave in LaosGiants’ Abdul Carter: ‘No beef’ with Jaxson Dart over President Trump introTrump floated the idea of a 15% government stake in a massive railroad mergerStar Sightings: Olivia Rodrigo Wears a ‘Saturday Night Live’ Jacket, Emily Ratajkowski Shops in New York CityEight students arrested in Kenya after suspected deadly school arson attackOff the Bone Came Before All of ThemOpinion | In a World That Enabled Epstein, What Makes a Good Man?A Dallas Weekend That Delivers: Where to Eat, Drink, and Be SomewhereFrisco ISD band tower collapse injures three students – NBC 5 Dallas-Fort WorthCarney Outlines Plan for New U.S.-Canada RelationshipThe Pilates Class Founder Jacqui Kingswell Reveals the Biggest Misconceptions About the Celeb-Loved WorkoutTop seed Jannik Sinner wilts, bounced from French OpenMan arrested after three injured in stabbing at Swiss train stationVelocity | Sim Racing Lounge Accelerates Into Dallas with Texas’ Largest Virtual Racing VenueOpinion | Trump Wants to ‘Take Cuba.’ These Cubans Have Thoughts.Massie Visits Greene in Costa Rica for Fishing and ‘Spicy’ Political Talks – The New York TimesUganda Closes Border with Congo Over Ebola FearsKazuma Okamoto’s 6th inning homer lifts Jays over MarlinsWhat Political Issues Do Americans Hear About in Church? – Pew Research CenterMeet the founder who turned his hotel night shifts as a 14-year-old into a $2.5 billion companyWoman caught after 30 years on the run is jailed for armed robberiesTwo of America’s Thorniest Political Issues Are Dividing an Arizona Town – The New York TimesOpinion | Prison and TimeTerrell officer killing suspect gets life after guilty plea – NBC 5 Dallas-Fort WorthNo. 6 seed Daniil Medvedev upset; Frenchman Moise Kouame (age 17) advancesWeeklong Effort to Rescue 7 People From Flooded Cave ContinuesUS launches new strikes on Iran, targeting missile sites and boatsLynchburg Republicans are about to have a political showdown between 2 rival factions – Cardinal NewsJune Restaurant Deals for Graduation Season, Steakhouse Month, World Cup, and More!Tigers, Angels meet as both see reasons for optimismPope Leo Warns of A.I. Risks in His First Papal EncyclicalAmerica’s largest oil export hub is so starved of water that it’s been illegal to have a green lawn for 2 yearsDeal with US not imminent, Iran saysNew NVIDIA Jetson Orin Nano KitSecretary Rubio Says U.S. Made “Significant Progress” Toward Interim Deal with IranAfter brief stay in U.S., Tiger Woods jets back to SwitzerlandLarge-scale Russian attack on Ukraine leaves four dead and dozens injuredIt took over a decade, but NextDecade’s longshot bet to lead LNG in Texas is finally paying offDozens Killed in Coal Mine Explosion, China State Media SaysOpinion | Inside the $1.8 Billion MAGA Payout FundTigers, O’s to play Sunday doubleheader after postponementEurope Just admitted the Iran War’s price shock isn’t going awayOpinion | Now Is Not the Time to Play Political Make-Believe – The New York TimesSenegal's president sacks prime minister Sonko after months of tensionsSUMMER FINDS UNDER $200 AND THE BEST MEMORIAL DAYMaps: How Ebola Has Spread in Central Africa‘A pressure cooker ready to explode’: The wild secondaries scramble for Anthropic sharesMarlins’ Eury Perez stumbles into series-opening matchup with MetsRubio says Cuba is threat to US as Havana accuses him of 'lies'England names 2026 World Cup squad for Croatia match in Dallas – NBC 5 Dallas-Fort WorthTrump Says He Will Speak With Taiwan’s President About Arms DealSo far, Trump’s political revenge campaigns have been successful – BrookingsPolice: Eagles LB Nolan Smith clocked driving 135 mphSamsung strike on hold as workers push for AI bonusCome to FrisCON May 29-30!Beach Visitor Accidentally Crashes a Fashion Show and Becomes a StarPrices at the pump hit $4 a gallon in all 50 states—just as summer driving season beginsSpurs, Pelicans to play in Paris, Manchester in 2027Inside the next phase of OpenAI’s political strategy – PoliticoOpinion | Which Has Better Taste: A.I. or Humans?Friendly’s Serves Up a Star-Spangled Summer With Lobster Favorites, Dirty Sodas and Sweet DealsTwin Peaks Launches ‘Go for Goal Giveaway’ Ahead of Summer’s World Soccer TournamentTrump’s Greenland envoy Jeff Landry faces uphill battle on mission to make ‘friends’Gianna Corvino of The NY Archive Thinks Getting Dressed ‘Should Feel Like Making a Sandwich’Ketanji Brown Jackson says Supreme Court risks being seen as political after voting rights decision – PBSTeyana Taylor Says It’s ‘Powerful’ When Women Are Given the ‘Space’ to ‘Step Into Their Vision’Jaxon Smith-Njigba on typos on trophy: ‘It’s getting disrespectful’Ebola Cases Rise Sharply as Medical Workers Scramble for SuppliesParag Agrawal’s Parallel wants to pay publishers when AI agents use their workDickey’s Barbecue Pit Announces Restaurant Specials and Hours Ahead of Memorial Day WeekendStarbucks Korea sacks CEO over controversial 'Tank Day' promotionAbortion Pill Lawsuit Leaves Trump Silent, and in a Political Bind – The New York TimesReport: Real Madrid bringing back Jose MourinhoTimmy the Whale Found Dead In DenmarkTrump warns 'clock is ticking' for Iran as peace progress stallsBOOK REVIEW: DEFIANT (KATE PREACHER THRILLER, #3) by Michael Maloof – Frisco Online Local NewsCarolina Hurricanes Waiting Game Continues Ahead of Eastern Conference FinalsKentucky’s Curious Cast of Political Characters – The New York TimesNew NRG CEO leans into growth with ‘bring your own power’ for the AI boom and ‘virtual power plants’SOME OF MY FAVORITE LOOKS OF LATEWHO declares Ebola outbreak in DR Congo a global health emergencyCar Rams into Pedestrians in Northern Italy, Injuring at Least 8Without Cal Raleigh, Mariners seek elusive win vs. PadresOpinion | The Great Political Realignment of 2026 – The New York TimesGraham Platner Thinks a Political Revolution Is Coming – The New York TimesThe prophet of the ‘Wired Belt’ says capitalism is finally eating itselfUkrainian Drone Attacks on Russian Apartment Building Kills 4What Happens When Buddhism Is Twinned With Political Power? – The New York TimesNew outbreak of Ebola kills 80 in eastern DR CongoHow Trump’s ‘unusual’ brokerage account traded around his own market-moving decisionsOpinion | You Should Sit With BoredomChina dominates AI minerals. But one company claims the ocean floor has hundreds of years of supplyC.I.A. Director Visits Cuba Amid Energy CrisisMyles Turner flames Giannis, Bucks for lack of accountabiltyBarbecue on the Geaux! Dickey’s Barbecue Pit Opens Convenient New Fuel Station Location in Thibodaux
Mon. Jun 1st, 2026

Harvard’s defiance of Trump’s ‘authoritarian incursion’ supported by over 70 past and present college and university presidents



The Trump administration has recently escalated its destructive and illegal attacks on the core freedoms of American colleges and universities, which we have called on it to halt (Fortune, April 8). The demands issued to Harvard University (in an April 11 letter), followed by the freezing of $2.2 billion of federal research funds along with threats to Harvard’s tax-exempt status, violate no less than the freedom of all colleges and universities to admit students, hire faculty, and govern themselves consistently with the law, the First Amendment, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, and long-standing principles of academic freedom. As current and former presidents of academic institutions, we strongly support Harvard’s President Alan Garber, who has rejected the demands on these grounds while the Trump administration threatens to demand control of numerous other schools. Just over three miles from Harvard Square is the Boston Tea Party site where, in 1773, American patriots fought government tyranny.

When the Trump administration conditions federal grants and contracts to universities on these demands, it threatens all Americans. Higher education is the greatest source of U.S. global competitiveness, cultural enrichment, and learning. By partnering with the federal government for decades, American universities have made lifesaving discoveries and increased the prosperity, safety, security, and creativity of our country. When the Trump administration insists on anyone’s compliance with likely illegal and unconstitutional conditions, it is threatening everyone’s freedom from arbitrary rule. When it insists on controlling the admission of students, faculty hiring, and governance of a university, it is also threatening a prime source of the opportunity and economic prosperity of all Americans. We all know from Martin Neimoller’s haunting lament, this authoritarian incursion does not end with Harvard. 

Cosignatories:
[f] = former presidents; [c] = current presidents

  • Michael B. Alexander, Lasell University (Massachusetts)  [f]
  • Edward Ayers, University of Richmond (Virginia) [f]
  • Larry Bacow, Tufts University (Massachusetts), Harvard University (Massachusetts)  [f]
  • Kimberly Benston, Haverford College (Pennsylvania) [f]
  • Katherine Bergeron, Connecticut College (Connecticut)  [f]
  • Henry Bienen, Northwestern University (Illinois) [f]
  • Lee Bollinger, Columbia University (New York), University of Michigan (Michigan) [f]
  • Phil Boroughs, SJ, College of the Holy Cross (Massachusetts)  [f]
  • William Brody, Salk Institute, The Johns Hopkins University (Maryland) [f]
  • Robert Brown, Boston University (Massachusetts) [f]
  • Mark Burstein, Lawrence University [f]
  • Alison Byerly, Carleton College (Minnesota) [c]
  • Albert Carnesale, University of California – Los Angeles (California)  [f]
  • Carol T. Christ, University of California – Berkeley (California) [f]
  • Johnnetta B. Cole, Spelman College (Georgia), Bennett College (North Carolina) [f]
  • Mary Sue Coleman, University of Michigan (Michigan), University of Iowa (Iowa) [f]
  • Shirley M. Collado, Ithaca College (New York)  [f]
  • Ron Crutcher, Wheaton College (Massachusetts)  [f]
  • Nicholas Dirks, University of California – Berkeley (California)  [f]
  • Adam Falk, Williams College (Massachusetts)  [f]
  • Jonathan Fanton, The New School (New York)  [f]
  • Drew Gilpin Faust, Harvard University (Massachusetts)  [f]
  • David Fithian, Clark University (Massachusetts) [c]
  • Wayne A. I. Frederick, Howard University (Washington DC)  [f]
  • Stephen Friedman, Pace University (New York)  [f]
  • Michael Gottfredson, University of Oregon (Oregon) [f]
  • Amy Gutmann, University of Pennsylvania (Pennsylvania)  [f]
  • Phil Hanlon, Dartmouth College (New Hampshire)  [f]
  • Nathan Hatch, Wake Forest University (North Carolina)  [f]
  • Robert Head, Rockford University (Illinois)  [f]
  • Mark A. Heckler, Valparaiso University (Indiana)  [f]
  • John Hennessy, Stanford University (California)  [f]
  • Catharine Bond Hill, Vassar College (New York)  [f]
  • Jonathan Holloway, Rutgers University (New Jersey) [c]
  • Freeman Hrabowski, The University of Maryland, Baltimore County (Maryland)  [f]
  • Thomas Katsouleas, University of Connecticut (Connecticut) [f]
  • Nan Keohane, Duke University (North Carolina), Wellesley College (Massachuse [f]
  • Brit Kirwan, University System of Maryland (Maryland)  [f]
  • Richard Lariviere, University of Oregon (Oregon), Field Museum of Natural History (Illinois) [f]
  • Bernie Machen, University of Florida (Florida)  [f]
  • Mary Marcy, Dominican University (California) [f]
  • Patricia McGuire, Trinity Washington University (Washington DC) [c]
  • Gail Mellow, LaGuardia Community College – City University of New York (New York) [f]
  • Ted Mitchell, American Council on Education (Washington DC), Occidental College (California) [f]
  • Anthony Monaco, Tufts University (Massachusetts)  [f]
  • Richard Morrill, Centre College (Kentucky)  [f]
  • Daniel J. Myers, Misericordia University (Pennsylvania) [c]
  • M. Duane Nellis, Ohio University (Ohio), Texas Tech University (Texas), University of Idaho (Idaho)  [f]
  • Gene Nichol, College of William & Mary (Virginia) [f]
  • Lynn Pasquerella, Mount Holyoke College (Massachusetts)  [f]
  • Laurie Patton, Middlebury College (Vermont)  [f]
  • Susan Poser, Hofstra University (New York) [c]
  • Steven Poskanzer, Carleton College (Minnesota)  [f]
  • Gregory Prince, Hampshire College (Massachusetts)  [f]
  • Stuart Rabinowitz, Hofstra University (New York)  [f]
  • L. Rafael Reif, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Massachusetts)  [f]
  • Sidney Ribeau, Howard University (Washington DC), Bowling Green State University (Ohio) [f]
  • L. Song Richardson, Colorado College (Colorado)  [f]
  • Michael S. Roth, Wesleyan University (Massachusetts) [c]
  • George Rupp, Rice University (Texas), Columbia University (New York)  [f]
  • Leonard A. Schlesinger, Babson College (Massachusetts)  [f]
  • Mark Schlissel, University of Michigan (Michigan)  [f]
  • Jake Schrum, Emory & Henry College (Virginia), Southwestern University (Texas), Texas Wesleyan University (Texas)  [f]
  • Allen Sessoms, Queens College, City University of New York (New York), Delaware State University (Delaware), University of the District of Columbia (Washington DC)  [f]
  • Donna Shalala, University of Miami (Florida), University of Wisconsin-Madison (Wisconsin), Hunter College of the City University of New York (New York) [f]
  • Teresa Sullivan, University of Virginia (Virginia) [f]
  • Timothy J. Sullivan, College of William and Mary (Virginia) [f]
  • Beverly Daniel Tatum, Spelman College (Georgia)  [f]
  • Lara Tiedens, Scripps College (California)  [f]
  • Humphrey Tonkin, University of Hartford (Connecticut)  [f]
  • Steve Trachtenberg, George Washington University (Washington DC)  [f]
  • Laura Walker, Bennington College (Vermont) [c]
  • Daniel H. Weiss, Haverford College (Pennsylvania), Lafayette College (Pennsylvania) [f]
  • Julie Wollman, Widener University (Pennsylvania)  [f]
  • Meredith Woo, Sweet Briar College (Virginia)  [f]
  • Mark Wrighton, Washington University of St. Louis (Missouri), George Washington University (Washington DC)  [f]
  • Nicholas Zeppos, Vanderbilt University (Tennessee)  [f]

Institutional affiliations provided for identification only.

This list has been updated with additional signatories and with indications of current and former presidents.

The opinions expressed in Fortune.com commentary pieces are solely the views of their authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and beliefs of Fortune

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com


Former and current college and university presidents

Related Posts

Trump floated the idea of a 15% government stake in a massive railroad merger
Trump floated the idea of a 15% government stake in a massive railroad merger

President Donald Trump recently expressed interest in the federal government acquiring a 15% stake in a massive railroad merger—remarks that took on new resonance this week when a federal regulator…

Continue reading
Meet the founder who turned his hotel night shifts as a 14-year-old into a $2.5 billion company
Meet the founder who turned his hotel night shifts as a 14-year-old into a $2.5 billion company

Richard Valtr built one of the most valuable hospitality technology companies in the world simply because he was a teen who wanted to stop working the night shift. “I always…

Continue reading

You Missed

World

US says it struck Iranian radar sites as Iran targets American forces in Kuwait

  • By admin
  • June 1, 2026
  • 2 views
US says it struck Iranian radar sites as Iran targets American forces in Kuwait
World

Israel Captures Beaufort Castle as It Advances Into Lebanon

Israel Captures Beaufort Castle as It Advances Into Lebanon
World

Laos cave survivors help with plan to find last two missing men

  • By admin
  • May 31, 2026
  • 5 views
Laos cave survivors help with plan to find last two missing men
World

What I Saw Inside an Ebola Ward

What I Saw Inside an Ebola Ward
World

No deal announced after Trump meeting to make 'final determination' on Iran

  • By admin
  • May 30, 2026
  • 6 views
No deal announced after Trump meeting to make 'final determination' on Iran
World

Rescuers Free Miner Trapped Inside a Cave in Laos

Rescuers Free Miner Trapped Inside a Cave in Laos