Purdue faculty push back on federal attacks, stop short of Big Ten mutual defense compact

Plus, Purdue President Mung Chiang on student visas revoked, federal funding threats and ‘misunderstanding’ on campus over SK hynix's $3.87B rezoning controversy

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PURDUE FACULTY PUSH BACK ON FEDERAL ATTACKS, STOP SHORT OF BIG TEN MUTUAL AID COMPACT

Purdue’s University Senate on Monday joined faculty leaders from other Big Ten universities in a joint statement “in support of the core mission and values” of higher education, at a time when campuses are being targeted for funding cuts and other broadsides since President Donald Trump started his second administration in January.

But the faculty-led University Senate came up short of the votes needed to sign onto a second, more aggressive measure initiated by professors at Rutgers, calling for university leadership on the 18 Big Ten campuses to create a “mutual academic defense compact” to fend off the Trump administration.

(Photo: Dave Bangert)

“In a time when research dollars are being ripped away from scientists, when the education of our graduate students here is ended by revocation of visas, when the very right to govern our own academic institutions is threatened, how can we stand before our students, as educators, if we do not educate those in power as to the wrongness of their action?” Susan South, chair of the University Senate, asked during the body’s final session of the 2025-25 academic year.

“As those working in higher education and institutions devoted to truth, facts, knowledge and developing leaders of tomorrow, we must call out lies when they are spread, call out hate when we hear it, call out wrongs when we see them,” South said. “For if not us, then who?”