St. Olaf joins national higher ed leaders in pushback against government overreach College signs national letter defending academic freedom amid rising political pressure

St. Olaf joined more than 500 colleges and universities across the country in signing a national letter opposing what it calls “unprecedented” government overreach into higher education.

The letter, organized by the American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U), calls for a renewed commitment to constructive engagement between higher education institutions and government leaders, reaffirming academic freedom and institutional autonomy.

In an email to The Olaf Messenger, President Sudan Rundell Singer said that her decision to sign the letter reflects the college’s commitment to academic independence.

“To date, executive orders have carved out academic freedom…. Today, we stand for the values that have made American higher education a beacon for the world,” Rundell Singer said. “We stand for the truth that colleges and universities across the country can embrace and honor their legal obligations and best fulfill their essential role in society without improper government intrusion.”

The AAC&U letter was released just weeks after the federal government reportedly pressured Columbia University to place its Middle Eastern, South Asian, and African Studies departments into receivership. Columbia and other institutions, including Harvard, have pushed back against what they see as improper political intrusion.

By signing the letter, St. Olaf stands alongside peer institutions in affirming the autonomy of colleges and their role in fostering open dialogue. The statement is part of a broader appeal from higher education leaders for meaningful collaboration with policymakers — one that upholds, rather than undermines, the core principles of free expression.

“We need to step up in our support for the value of the independence of higher education, of academic freedom, and free speech as the bedrock of our democracy,” Rundell Singer said. “As John Dewey stated, ‘Democracy has to be born anew every generation, and education is its midwife.’”

That commitment to academic freedom is not just a national concern, but one that touches the St. Olaf community.

“St. Olaf is a community that belongs to all of us,” said Rundell Singer. “Together, we shape the experience on the Hill and can continue to be a bright beacon for the highest values of education.”