Former Scripps President Lara Tiedens was one of over 50 former college and university presidents to co-sign an open letter in support of Harvard University’s decision to reject federal demands putting its nearly $9 billion in federal funding at risk.
“Higher education is the greatest source of US global competitiveness, cultural enrichment, and learning,” the letter says. “By partnering with the federal government for decades, American universities have made lifesaving discoveries and increased the prosperity, safety, security, and creativity of our country.”
An initial letter signed by former and current presidents, including Tiedens, was released in early April with a call to “end the destructive attacks on colleges and universities and establish a constructive dialogue with board trustees and presidents over university governance and educational guidelines.”
Read the full letter here.