USC faculty members denounce Trump compact that would shift university to the right

"During an impassioned USC Academic Senate meeting on Monday, faculty strongly denounced and rejected the Trump administration offer to give the university funding preference in exchange for abiding by conservative education goals. In forceful speeches, University of Southern California department chairs, professors, researchers and others who attended the virtual meeting called the compact "egregiously invalid," "probably unconstitutional," "antithetical to principles of academic freedom" and "a Trojan horse.""

"The hourlong discussion, which was broadcast online via Zoom and viewed by The Times, opened with comments from interim President Beong-Soo Kim, who did not offer his opinion of the compact. He noted that USC did not solicited the offer from Trump. "The university has not made any kind of final decision - that's because I wanted to make sure that I heard from the community and received your input," Kim said. He said USC had not been asked to sign the compact - and instead was given a chance by the Trump administration to offer feedback on it. "I do understand fully how strongly people feel about some of the issues presented here," Kim said. In a statement Friday, he said the offer "covers a number of issues that I believe are important to study and discuss." Universities that agree to the compact would get more favorable access to federal research grants and additional funding, as well as"

USC faculty unanimously denounced and rejected a Trump administration compact offering universities funding preference in return for adopting conservative education measures. Faculty described the compact as egregiously invalid, probably unconstitutional, antithetical to academic freedom and a Trojan horse. The compact was circulated to eight other prominent universities and prompted criticism from state leadership for demanding rightward campus policy shifts in exchange for priority federal funding. About 500 attendees participated and none expressed support. The university has not made a final decision and was invited to provide feedback rather than sign the compact. Universities that agree would receive more favorable access to federal research grants and additional funding.

Read at Los Angeles Times