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We are a grassroots movement of students, faculty, labor, alumni, and community members organizing to defend and expand access, autonomy, and excellence in post-secondary  education. 

The attack on colleges and universities is an attack on the foundations of a free society—a  calculated power grab aimed at undermining social, racial, and economic justice. 

No institution can withstand the pressure alone. No temporary settlement will stop the authoritarian playbook of weakening and politicizing universities. No insider lobbying campaign that defines the issue as academic freedom can win the battle for public support.  

The best answer is a unified national grassroots campaign to defend the autonomy of colleges  and universities, protect vital life-saving research that is an engine of our local economies, and  make higher education a public good that is accessible, affordable, and relevant to all people,  including working families.

We make three strategic choices: 

  1. To say NO to the attack on higher education—and YES to a vision of colleges and universities as engines of social mobility, accessible to working people.  
  2. To organize, to build structures and campaigns that create opportunities for agency for  large numbers of students, alumni, staff, and faculty. We see colleges as a critical, but under-organized terrain for the struggle over democracy in the U.S. 
  3. To unite the major constituencies – pillars – of higher education, students, alumni,  faculty- staff, community, reform-oriented leadership under a common umbrella so they  can maximize their influence on the leadership of their institutions and elected officials. 
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