Big Ten mutual defense compact? Not for University of Iowa

Citing threats to “the autonomy of university governance, the integrity of scientific research, and the protection of free speech” at institutes of higher education by the Trump administration, faculty governance leaders at several Big Ten schools have called for a “mutual defense compact” between universities of the Big Ten Academic Alliance to protect themselves from intrusion by the federal government. The University of Iowa’s Faculty Senate has had no such resolutions slated for consideration on its meeting agendas, but its Faculty Council – the executive body of the Faculty Senate – did vote April 29 to add its signature to the “statement on shared values of higher education,” a resolution that was drafted collaboratively by Big Ten faculty governance leaders affirming nine core higher education principles agreed upon by university faculty. “There was one nay vote and all the rest of the votes were in favor,” Caroline Sheerin, past Faculty Council president, wrote in an email to the CBJ. Prior to the April 29 decision to add its signature, the Faculty Council voted to endorse the statement at its April 8 meeting.

What’s the difference?

The mutual defense compact calls for Big Ten universities to pool funding to create a “defense fund” with the aim to financially aid member institutions who may experience “direct political or legal infringement.” Participating institutions would also offer their “legal counsel, governance experts, and public affairs offices” to beleaguered members for the purpose of “legal representation and countersuit actions; strategic public communication; amicus briefs and expert testimony; legislative advocacy and coalition-building; related topical research as needed,” according to a resolution adopted recently by the Michigan State University Faculty Senate. Essentially, a challenge to one member institution would be considered a challenge to all. Conversely, no such compact is proposed in the “statement on shared values.” Nine core higher education principles are affirmed in the statement, including academic freedom, the support of free speech and the importance of academic scholarship and research. “Cuts to research funding in higher education will undermine scientific innovation, health, societal progress, and the U.S.’s leadership position, with long-lasting detrimental impacts,” the statement reads, along with “We support the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution which guarantees the right of people to peaceably assemble. All community members who engage in peaceful assembly, regardless of viewpoint or citizenship status, should have the opportunity to do so without retaliation.” The statement was drafted in response to “recent challenges to funding and programming (that) threaten to dismantle the core values and mission of higher education, at great detriment to the public at large and the U.S.’s international reputation.” Thus far, 12 university governance bodies have endorsed or added their signatures to the statement, among them Faculty Senates from Ohio State University, University of Nebraska, Northwestern University and Purdue University. The Big Ten Academic Alliance drafted a statement asserting it was not involved in the “mutual defense compact” resolution. “Consistent with Big Ten Academic Alliance policy, we do not comment on campus matters at our member institutions,” it read.