In this episode we discuss the AAUP's statement "Against Anticipatory Obedience" which offers guidelines about how to respond to attacks on higher ed like those being launched by the Trump administration and its right wing allies. The statement says in times like these, "it is the higher education community’s responsibility not to surrender to such attacks—and not to surrender in anticipation of them. Instead, we must vigorously and loudly oppose them." Henry Reichman, a professor emeritus of history at California State University–East Bay and one of the statement's writers, walks us through the history and the recommended actions in the face of attack.

In part two of the episode, we discuss what specific steps faculty can take to strengthen their CBAs and handbooks to safeguard academic rights and governance. The guests in part two are Mark Criley, a senior program officer in the Department of Academic Freedom, Tenure, and Governance at the AAUP, and Monica Owens is a senior program officer and field services representative in the Department of Organizing. The episode is hosted by Mariah Quinn.

Links:

• Against Anticipatory Obedience, AAUP
• 1940 Statement of Principles on Academic Freedom and Tenure, AAUP
• Statement on Government of Colleges and Universities, AAUP
• Recommended Institutional Regulations on Academic Freedom and Tenure, AAUP
• Statement on Procedural Standards in the Renewal or Nonrenewal of Faculty Appointments, AAUP
• Understanding Academic Freedom, Henry Reichman, Johns Hopkins University Press, 2025