The Trump administration is waging a war against universities, civil liberties and democratic norms.

Bowdoin is in the crosshairs, and yet the College has not resisted, hoping that we can escape unnoticed. This strategy has committed Bowdoin to staying silent, instead of standing up to assaults—sacrificing its values, community members and institutional mission in the process.

It’s time for a change.

These attacks are unfolding on so many fronts; we have to respond in kind. The issues are interconnected.

Freedom of expression. In recent years, the College has unequally applied its policies to intimidate, threaten and punish progressive students, staff and faculty for their speech and activism. Students who condemn racism and Zionism are labeled “hateful” or “antisemitic,” and they are quickly punished. But when others publicly make racist, anti-Black and Islamophobic statements, little happens. Following Trump’s calls for colleges to further crack down on political speech, Bowdoin has now imposed a new set of policies that will not only further restrict speech on campus but also exacerbate these double standards. We demand that the College:

• Immediately rescind the Freedom of Expression and On-Campus Protests and Demonstrations, Publicity, Outside Organizations and Solicitation on Campus and Use of College Property policies passed since January 1, 2026
• Demonstrate commitment to democratic process by submitting future policy changes for campus-wide referendum.

ICE. No one is safe from ICE. Masked agents are brazenly terrorizing millions across the country. On February 10, ICE abducted a Brunswick resident in broad daylight. On February 26, one of our peers was abducted from Columbia University by ICE agents operating under false pretenses. Although we have urged Bowdoin to take action, the College has only dragged its feet. Bowdoin has a commitment to stand up for its community. We demand that the administration:

• Prohibit ICE from campus
• Ensure 24/7 access to safe transportation around Brunswick for any community member who may be targeted by ICE
• Use its existing emergency notification system to warn the entire community as soon as ICE is confirmed in Brunswick
• Facilitate and subsidize legal support for any Bowdoin faculty, student or staff in case of abduction

Palestine. The U.S. government has made possible the Israeli state’s genocide of the Palestinian people. Although feigning neutrality, Bowdoin has admitted to investing in arms manufacturers and has consistently promoted Zionist perspectives while actively repressing pro-Palestinian ones. Last year, the College put 42 students on probation, temporarily suspended 8 and de-chartered Students for Justice in Palestine for daring to speak out. We demand that the administration:

• Clearly state that it will not conflate criticism of Zionism or Israel (including questioning the existence of Israel) with antisemitism or hate speech
• Immediately recharter Students for Justice in Palestine

Over the last two years, we have written emails and op-eds, engaged with countless committees and listening sessions, and met with the administration in the hopes of working together. We spoke up before Donald Trump was elected, and now people have been abducted just minutes from campus. How much longer do we have to wait for meaningful action?

Amnesty Bowdoin

Latin American Student Organization

Muslim Students Alliance

Philippine Society

Middle Eastern and North African Student Association

Bowdoin Reproductive Justice Coalition

Free Radicals

Bowdoin Naturalists

The Nightingale Society

Email amnestybowdoin@proton.me to add your club’s signature.

Caleb Packard, Ben Conover, Jules Messitte, Elena Ardell and Ayezah Dar are members of the Class of 2026. Anne-Sophie Kagan and Kate Mautz are members of the Class of 2027.