When Beverly Daniel Tatum told a friend she was writing about higher education, the reply was striking: “Being a college president must be the hardest job in America.” That sentiment proved true during the 2023-24 academic year, described by the Chronicle of Higher Education as an “annus horribilis” for university leaders.
Trump’s Clash with Universities
Donald Trump’s return to the White House intensified the storm. Over seven months, his administration accused elite universities of antisemitism, liberal bias, and un-American diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
Billions in federal research funds were frozen to force ideological compliance, shaking institutions long considered global beacons of innovation and talent.
Tatum’s Perspective on Disruption
Tatum, former president of Spelman College and award-winning psychologist, finds these attacks puzzling. She stresses that American higher education has long been admired worldwide, both for academic excellence and as a source of global prestige.
Undermining this system, she warns, jeopardizes U.S. leadership in research, science, and cultural progress, with potentially lasting consequences.
Leadership and Misconceptions
During her career, including a return as Mount Holyoke College’s president in 2022, Tatum often heard questions about why anyone would take such a difficult role.
She believes these doubts reflect a misunderstanding of the impact college leaders can have, not only within institutions but also in shaping society at large.
Peril and Promise: A Call to Action
Her book, Peril and Promise: College Leadership in Turbulent Times, combines memoir and manifesto. It addresses higher education’s intertwined challenges—declining enrollment, rising costs, debates over free speech, antisemitism, and student-worker activism.
These struggles, amplified by Trump’s confrontational policies, highlight the precarious yet crucial role of higher education in safeguarding democracy and knowledge.
Funding Battles and Academic Freedom
Recent funding freezes targeted Harvard, UCLA, and other universities, with accusations tied to protests and civil rights violations. While some institutions negotiated costly settlements and policy changes, Harvard sued, arguing that government interference violates academic freedom.
Tatum underscores the importance of standing firm, though she acknowledges the immense pressures presidents face in such conflicts.
Alumni Power and Public Responsibility
According to Tatum, alumni from prestigious universities hold disproportionate influence in leadership across the U.S. She argues that if these graduates collectively opposed government attacks, it could alter political behavior.
Instead, she sees “armchair quarterbacking” from outsiders, rather than unified action to defend the independence of higher education institutions.
Antisemitism, Islamophobia, and Campus Protests
Campus tensions escalated following Hamas’s October 2023 attack on Israel. Protests sparked heated debates about antisemitism, Islamophobia, and free expression.
Tatum stresses nuance: some Jewish students opposed Israeli policies and led demonstrations, while hostile acts targeted both Jewish and Muslim students. The complexity, she notes, defies simple narratives and demands careful, inclusive leadership.
HBCUs: Rising Interest and Persistent Struggles
Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) face both opportunities and challenges. Applications are rising as students seek affirming spaces amid growing societal hostility toward Black identity.
However, limited financial resources restrict access, even as HBCUs remain more affordable than predominantly white institutions. Tatum highlights the urgent need for expanded financial aid support.
The Backlash Against DEI
Chapter two of Tatum’s book, “Who’s Afraid of DEI – and Why?”, explores the backlash against diversity initiatives. She connects it to the rise of white nationalist movements and broader resistance to racial progress.
Misunderstandings about DEI, she explains, wrongly frame it as exclusionary, rather than a pathway to belonging for all students.
A Historical Cycle of Progress and Pushback
Tatum views current resistance as part of a recurring cycle. Quoting Martin Luther King Jr., she reminds readers that every step toward racial progress sparks backlash.
From her birth in 1954 through Obama’s election in 2008, she has witnessed advances and setbacks. The challenge now, she suggests, is determining when the next step forward begins.
