We are proud to see President Safa Zaki’s signature listed with those of over 200 presidents and other officials of the American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U), including all 11 NESCAC presidents, who wrote in opposition to the federal government’s intrusion into campus life. This is an essential part of the fight to protect higher education, and Zaki’s signature is especially important at a college dedicated to the common good.

Zaki’s signature is significant following the recent letter from a congressional committee demanding documents on the February encampment by Students for Justice in Palestine. While it is not clear how the College responded to the committee, by standing with other colleges and universities against the recent impositions of the federal government, Zaki has signaled her dedication to student safety and academic freedom.

In the AAC&U letter, the signees discuss the importance of diversity of community and thought within the American higher education system. In the context of a liberal arts institution like Bowdoin, the mission of which is to “engage students of uncommon promise in an intense full-time education of their minds, exploration of their creative faculties, and development of their social and leadership abilities,” every part of the student’s life becomes an opportunity to learn. At Bowdoin, we are not only preparing for future careers but also celebrating freedom of thought and encouraging civil discourse. It is essential to stand up for academic freedom in any context, but doing so is particularly integral to upholding the mission of a liberal arts education.

The signees also note in the letter that: “Our colleges and universities share a commitment to serve as centers of open inquiry where, in their pursuit of truth, faculty, students, and staff are free to exchange ideas and opinions across a full range of viewpoints without fear of retribution, censorship, or deportation.”

Deportation poses an increasing threat, as more than 1,000 international students have had their visas or legal statuses revoked under President Donald Trump’s administration. These fears are present at Bowdoin, too. In an email to the campus community last Friday, Associate Vice President of the Office of Safety and Security Randy Nichols noted the addition of new campus safety posters, providing a QR code linked to a new Bowdoin immigration and safety resource page. Nichols emphasized that the creation of this webpage was not due to an incident with law enforcement or U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement but to share helpful information to best ensure student safety.

Measures and resources like those listed on the webpage signify the College’s duty to protect students and make them feel safe to share their experiences and ideas with the wider community. Freedom of expression should not be compromised under the current administration but should be embraced for creating an environment where students can foster intellectual growth and grapple with beliefs other than their own.

In the face of these federal government restrictions, community members on campus have become wary about openly sharing their beliefs. Professors and students across the nation have seen their course materials cut and faced firing and suspension for voicing dissident political beliefs in academic contexts. The Trump administration has undertaken internal reviews of academic programs such as the Middle Eastern Studies department at Columbia University. As the presidents’ letter sets forth, academic freedom is certainly under attack.

We agree that the College cannot offer the same intellectual environment when our community members fear being targeted for their belief systems or background. In addition to signing this letter, we call upon President Zaki to further stand up to the Trump administration in favor of the personal safety and academic freedom of faculty, students and staff.

This editorial represents the majority opinion of the Editorial Board, which is composed of Catalina Escobedo, Eve Foley, Talia Traskos-Hart, Lily Wheadon, Kristen Kinzler and Vaughn Vial.