In this video detailing his day one plans for education reform after disbanding the Department of Education, he explicitly states that he is going to enforce a “standard” where universities are required to “defend tradition and western civilization,” and will confiscate their entire endowment fund if they don’t meet this standard. He details that this will be done by dismantling all college accreditation institutions and replacing them with party loyal Republicans who will ensure universities are granting “fast-tracked” degrees to get people into the workplace.
This is, beyond an obviously fascist move to crack down on dissent and totally destroy the concept of academic freedom, in his own words, “crushing his enemies.” The left in this country retreated into academia for job security, but the humanities as we know them will be gone completely soon. This is not an overreaction, it is literally already happening. Most of my colleagues are already looking for new jobs. For what it’s worth, republicans are very good at identifying and crushing their enemies - the left as a whole has no choice but to exit the academies and enter the workforce. It’s on us to make him regret heightening this particular contradiction.
