Hundreds of colleges, universities and scholarly societies in the U.S. have pledged to resist the Trump administration’s “unprecedented” all-out attacks on higher education as the president targets universities with massive funding revocations and other retribution.

Over 200 institutions have signed a statement, published Tuesday, calling for leaders in higher education to rise to the moment and commit to protecting the field, their staff and their students against the administration’s sweeping crackdown.

“As leaders of America’s colleges, universities, and scholarly societies, we speak with one voice against the unprecedented government overreach and political interference now endangering American higher education,” the group said.

The statement was signed by the heads of numerous prominent universities, including Harvard University, University of Pennsylvania, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Yale University, and more.

Columbia University was absent from the list until after it was released to the public, with acting President Claire Shipman signing after reporters and advocates pointed out the university’s absence.

Columbia’s signature is significant, as the university has been capitulating to the Trump administration’s demands and even seemingly........

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