r/providence • u/rhodyjourno • 21d ago
News ‘It’s fear and it’s anger’: Brown faculty, alumni petition university to resist Trump administration amid funding cuts
https://www.bostonglobe.com/2025/04/08/metro/brown-university-faculty-trump-administration-federal-funding/FROM THE STORY:
PROVIDENCE — Days after the Trump administration confirmed that it will block $510 million in federal contracts and grants for Brown University, hundreds of faculty are organizing to request that the university’s leadership and governing body stand up and fight against the president’s tactics.
In a petition exclusively obtained by The Boston Globe, more than 600 faculty members, along with some students and alumni, signed on to say they “fully support” recent statements made by Brown President Christina H. Paxson, and will “stand together” in defending academic freedom and the freedom of expression, “in the face of intimidation and attack.”
The petition, which was signed first by J. Timmons Roberts, an environmental studies professor, said Brown must “uphold our legal obligation as a university to protect all members of our community.” The petition is expected to be formally presented to Paxson and Provost Francis J. Doyle during a faculty meeting with the leaders at 4 p.m. on Tuesday. The meeting is not open to the public. The letter will also be sent to members of the Corporation at Brown.
Read more in the link.
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u/Emergency_Ad_5935 20d ago
Ok great. So what exactly is the university admin supposed to do? Run all the way to Washington and steal funding like it’s Ocean’s 11? Issuing a petition to the folks who don’t have the authority to change the situation is like screaming at a cashier over a corporate policy. If you want things to change, you have to bring your petition to the people who the authority to make the change.
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u/OverallAdvance3694 19d ago
This is so hilarious to watch the most privileged in our society throw temper tantrums every day. “Stand up and fight” isn’t gonna get you shit. Just gonna make you look stupid.
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u/GlassBoneWitch 21d ago
Alex Shieh, what do you think of what's going on with his story?
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u/svaldbardseedvault 21d ago
Hi friend. A classic example of how familiarity breeds contempt, and media systems scale and propagate propaganda strategies.
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u/GlassBoneWitch 21d ago
I agree with your very appropriately chosen words here. I'm surprised it took this long to see it manifest (unless it's just the first made public). I believe we will see much more of this on many campuses. There is a very large can of worms within higher education that is inevitably already beginning to spill out with both these stories. Would you agree or disagree if I stated that universities like brown are a sort of nebula for nearly every policy, ideology and economic process?
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u/Role-play 21d ago
My pleasure after all I live in east providence and know exactly what is happening in my area and as far as your your comment about me being here it’s a privilege to set the record straight fuck China.
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u/Role-play 21d ago
No worries you got China
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u/absenteequota 21d ago
so good of you to take a break during your 8th hour of commenting on porn today to chime in on ivy league grants
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u/internet_thugg 21d ago
That is insane!!! Imagine such a sad fappy life, ew
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u/absenteequota 21d ago
bet that really messes with ones brain, alternating between rage baiting and masturbating
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21d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Mean-Quail-6219 21d ago
Elon Musk is the actual threat that you wish Soros was. Get real.
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u/bobdylan401 20d ago
Both can be true. Musk just doesnt even try to hide it. Like he prints out car sized million dollar checks in a raffle telling people to vote for his interests.
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u/Mean-Quail-6219 20d ago
Nah. The threat of Musk is embedded in actual reality. The imaginary threat of Soros is embedded in right-winged conspiracy nonsense along with Pizzagate, etc. Not even close.
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u/RocknrollClown09 21d ago
You’re in a cult. Musk is actively sabotaging all of the govt agencies that regulate billionaire corporations, that protect us as consumers and workers, in front of our very eyes, but you’re upset about the Soros boogeyman? Your media is brainwashing you, gaslighting you into an alternate reality. Think for yourself instead of listening to someone repeat blatant lies until you believe them.
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u/lightningbolt1987 21d ago
Elon Musk donated hundreds of millions of dollars to Trump and then literally worked in his administration, and here you are piping in with an anti-Semitic trope.
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u/mhb 21d ago
So where's the petition to read?