University refuses funding from the Trump administration; others evaluate

In an open letter Friday, Brown President Christina Paxson said she was working with the university community to craft a response to the memo.

On Monday, the University of Virginia’s chancellor and interim president announced the formation of a working group to advise the university on how to respond, but said “it would be difficult for the University to agree to certain provisions” of the memorandum.

Dartmouth University, the University of Arizona, the University of Southern California and Vanderbilt also sent statements saying they were deciding how to respond. The University of Texas said earlier this month that it was “enthusiastically” looking forward to working with the administration.

Trump administration demands diversity cut

The White House’s 10-point memo calls for the “transformation or abolition of institutional units that purposefully punish, belittle, and even encourage violence against conservative ideas” but did not include similar measures to protect liberal ideas.

Since Trump took office in January, the White House has targeted what it considers liberal-leaning institutions in a variety of fields and has sought to withhold funding from colleges and universities on grounds that involve pro-Palestinian protests against U.S. ally Israel’s war in Gaza, transgender policies, climate initiatives and diversity, equity and inclusion programs.