More than 500 universities sign letter against federal cuts, WSU absent

As the Trump administration makes funding cuts to universities nationwide, many university presidents are banding together to take a stand.

The American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) issued a letter speaking “against the unprecedented government overreach and political interference now endangering American higher education.”

As of Wednesday, 568 schools had signed on in support, including representatives from the University of Washington and Eastern Washington University.

Missing from the list, however, is Washington State University (WSU).

According to The Spokesman-Review, multiple professors have reached out to University President Elizabeth Cantwell, urging her to sign the letter in support but have received no response.

“They should really reach out to, you know, students, the faculty, the staff and other stakeholders with some kind of response,” Norman Lewis, a WSU professor of biological chemistry told the The Spokesman-Review. “And by extrapolation, if they’re not going to sign, explain why not.”

The letter acts as a symbol of solidarity, with no explicit plan made except that the AAC&U and its signatories are “open to constructive reform and do not oppose legitimate government oversight,” the letter reads.

According to the Associated Press, of nearly 100 colleges at risk of losing funding, around 10% to 13% of their revenue came from federal contracts or research funding. At WSU, approximately $207 million of its research funding comes from the federal government, with the school spending nearly $380 million annually.

Fearing a freeze

On April 11, a federal freeze was issued against Harvard. In response, the university announced it would file a lawsuit. The freeze was imposed after the school refused to comply with the Trump administration’s demands to curb campus activism.

Now, some wonder if what’s happening to Harvard could be a reason why universities like WSU, are hesitant to show their support.

“I think many other universities will be watching Harvard closely,” Rob McKenna told “Seattle’s Morning News,” on KIRO Newsradio. “Other universities are stepping up to at least voice their support for Harvard; Yale, for example. So, this is a huge test case. High stakes for sure.”

Elizabeth Cantwell has not publicly made any statements on WSU’s position.