STATEMENTS

September 2, 2025

Statement on Brown’s Agreement with the Federal Government 

President Christina Paxson’s letter of July 31, 2025 on Brown’s agreement with the federal government assured members of our community that the university’s foremost priority was "remaining true to our academic mission” and “preserving our academic independence.” The Brown University chapter of the AAUP is committed to the rule of law, but it must be emphasized that both the government’s withholding of funds and the negotiation of this agreement occurred outside the legal system. Brown was never formally charged with breaking any law and this document addresses no legal policy. The document is, in the parlance of President Trump himself, a “deal,” and one made under enormous financial pressure, given the millions in research funds at stake. Brown University, faced with the power of the federal government, was forced to protect its financial interests at the expense of the principles that the University has long endorsed. While we are relieved to see many salaries and research funds restored, we note the following clause, written directly into the agreement: "nothing in this Agreement prevents the United States from conducting subsequent compliance reviews or investigations.”

President Paxson's letter claims that this agreement has made Brown “free from government intrusion,” but the letter also details instances of government intrusion that Brown has agreed to, such as mandatory campus climate surveys and visits from the Office for Civil Rights. Other forms of surveillance include the collection of complaints made to the Office for Equity Compliance and Reporting, allegations of discrimination in anonymous student evaluations of their professors, and admissions data, all of which will be “subjected to a comprehensive audit by the United States.” This information will almost certainly be used by off-campus groups to attack faculty as part of an effort to influence what is being taught at the university. On matters of sex and gender, the agreement accepts and thereby legitimates executive orders that are matters of ongoing legal challenge and debate. Hoping to avoid further “defunding and litigation,” the university has agreed to prove compliance by taking “appropriate action” and documenting its implementation for government review. These elements together amount to a blatant violation of academic freedom.

In addition, this agreement makes it easier for the federal government to continue its attacks on free speech. Given that Trump has a long record of antisemitism, it is clear that his abuse of the term “antisemitism” is simply a cover for dismantling diversity and inclusion initiatives. Such disingenuous uses of “protection" risk increasing, not mitigating, antisemitism. We are concerned that, by singling out one ethnic and religious group, the agreement does not address the rights of other religious, ethnic, and racial minorities, including non-U.S. citizens, who are vulnerable to discrimination and other civil rights violations. We therefore call upon the University to support with equal vigor and commitment the rights of all members of the Brown community.

Looking to the future, we would first like to see Brown’s administrators work with other universities rather than striking independent deals with the federal government. Second, given the importance of shared governance for the preservation of academic freedom, we expect to see faculty from all ranks and divisions included in major decisions that will have far-reaching consequences for our University. Third, we urge the University to work closely with faculty to discuss ways the University might seek greater financial independence through longer-term restructuring of its finances. To ensure that any future attempts to use federal funds to blackmail the university will not have such powerful leverage, core functions of the university should be funded by established sources of revenue. Fourth, we call for actions to protect faculty, students, and staff from outside surveillance as we teach and learn together. These are fundamental to remaining a genuinely independent university.