Tell Universities: Don’t Normalize Authoritarianism

Universities are meant to be pillars of free thought, democracy, and public good — not stepping stones for authoritarian influence. But Columbia University is putting that legacy at risk.

Columbia signed a $200 million deal with the Trump administration, a partnership that grants the government deep influence over academic research and institutional direction. This comes as Trump’s administration continues to target student protestors, undermine civil rights, and erode core democratic values.

You can’t serve truth and power at the same time.

Academic institutions have a responsibility to resist, not legitimize, authoritarianism. By accepting this deal, Columbia is sending a dangerous message: that access to resources is worth more than academic independence or human rights.

Sign now to demand Columbia University cancel this agreement and commit to protecting democratic values, free inquiry, and the rights of its students and faculty.