CMC, Grow a Spine
- Ian Akers
- 4 days ago
- 3 min read
CMC’s neutrality on recent government interference in higher education is a far cry from the responsible leadership we preach.
On Tuesday, the American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) issued a statement titled “A Call for Constructive Engagement.” The statement condemned “unprecedented government overreach and political interference now endangering American higher education.” The statement also maintained the importance of higher education to act as “centers of open inquiry,” “productive partners with government in promoting the common good,” and “engines of opportunity and mobility.” Without mentioning Trump, the statement argues that the recent executive intrusions into higher education threaten to undermine these purposes.
When the statement was released, it had just over 200 signatures from leaders of AAC&U’s member colleges and universities. As of 5:00 p.m. ET on April 25th, 2025, that number had increased to 498, and the statement continues to accept signatures. One AAC&U member is notably absent from the list: Claremont McKenna College. Pomona, Scripps, Harvey Mudd, and Pitzer have also signed onto the statement.
A quick glance at CMC’s FAQ's on Institutional Statements reveals that CMC does not issue institutional statements due to a 2023 Board of Trustees decision to adopt the principles highlighted in the University of Chicago’s Kalven Report. Among these principles are the belief that universities must commit to individual freedom, open inquiry, and serve as a forum for diverse ideas. The Kalven Committee argued that universities that did not maintain neutrality endangered these principles.
I largely agree with the Kalven Report and generally support CMC’s institutional neutrality. It protects the academic freedom of students and faculty and facilitates the open and constructive dialogue that CMC has made so central to its identity.
But, hiding behind the neutrality of the Kalven Report is hollow and flimsy. It does not justify CMC’s silence on President Trump’s undue and coercive interference with U.S. higher education. In fact, the Kalven Report itself states that colleges and universities have an obligation to stand against such threats. It reads:
From time to time instances will arise in which the society, or segments of it, threaten the very mission of the university and its values of free inquiry. In such a crisis, it becomes the obligation of the university as an institution to oppose such measures and actively to defend its interests and its values.
CMC’s own Statement in Support of Institutional Neutrality reserves the right for the College to speak on issues that “have direct bearing on the College’s educational mission and function.” How can the Trump Administration’s recent actions be interpreted as anything else?
Neither the CMC Office of Strategic Communications & Marketing nor the Office of the President have responded to requests for more information on CMC’s decision to not sign the letter.
CMC cannot claim to value open inquiry, academic freedom, and responsible leadership if it stands silent while those principles are challenged. This article is not a call for partisanship or an end to institutional neutrality. It is a call for courage.
Standing with our fellow institutions of higher education is not a declaration of partisanship. It is a reaffirmation of our principles, values, and unyielding dedication to academic freedom. Staying silent while the Trump Administration lays siege to higher education will not protect us. Responsible leadership demands we speak.