Central European University (CEU), once flourishing in Budapest, now operates in exile in Vienna following pressure from Hungary's right-wing government. Founded by George Soros, CEU symbolizes academic freedom, now at risk as the Trump administration adopts measures reminiscent of tactics used by Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban. Faculty and students express concerns over increasing authoritarianism undermining academic independence, drawing parallels between their experiences and the potential future of U.S. educational institutions. With parallels being drawn, scholarly figures like Carsten Q. Schneider highlight that the threats to academic freedom are globally relevant and evolving.
It's like we keep screaming at the void, and no one is listening, said Sepphora Llanes, a graduate student from Colorado.
As the Trump administration escalates its pressure campaign, more people in American higher education and in Vienna believe the U.S. government is borrowing from a playbook refined in recent years by Prime Minister Viktor Orban.
At the abstract level, it's the same, said Carsten Q. Schneider, a German scholar who has worked for C.E.U. for more than 20 years.
George Soros's Central European University, once a beacon of academic freedom, now faces existential threats akin to those facing U.S. institutions under current administration.
#central-european-university #academic-freedom #trump-administration #viktor-orban #higher-education
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