M.I.T. Rejects a White House Offer for Special Funding Treatment

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology rejected a White House proposal from Donald Trump that sought to secure benefits for universities in exchange for protecting conservative speech, marking a significant stand in higher education.

• The White House offered nine universities, including the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, special funding treatment in exchange for agreements to uphold conservative voices on campus.
• Sally Kornbluth, the provost of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, stated the institutions commitment to free speech and academic freedom led to its decision to decline the agreement.
• This refusal by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology positions it as a leader in higher education against potential political influence over academic policies, particularly from the Trump administration.