Mordecai Johnson, the president of Howard University, found himself in a tough spot one May morning in 1935. He had to appear before a congressional subcommittee to discuss the growing influence of far-left ideas among his faculty and students. The federal government had historically provided funding for the university’s budget, so Johnson had a tricky decision to make. He could defend the free exchange of ideas on campus, risking the government holding up their funding, or he could agree with the representatives’ criticisms and promise to align the university’s values more closely with those deemed American.
The academic year had been a challenging one, with universities facing scrutiny and pressure from the government. Since December of 2023, university presidents had been summoned to congressional hearings, criticized, and some even forced to resign. Johnson’s dilemma, although happening almost a century ago, mirrored the struggles faced by university leaders today. The threat to academic freedom was real, and the consequences of not complying with government demands were severe.
In March, the Trump Administration escalated its efforts to control universities by threatening to withhold federal grants from institutions like Columbia and Harvard. These universities were forced to make changes to their operations and policies to avoid losing crucial funding. The government’s actions were justified under the guise of combating antisemitism and promoting “viewpoint diversity,” but the real motivations seemed dubious at best. The universities found themselves in a precarious position, having to navigate a landscape where government interference in higher education was becoming increasingly common. Johnson’s unwavering commitment to free inquiry in the face of government pressure serves as a reminder that without the freedom to explore ideas, universities cease to fulfill their purpose. So, the battle for academic freedom continues, with university leaders like Johnson standing at the forefront, defending the principles that underpin higher education.
