Newsom threatens to cut state funding to universities that sign Trump's political compact

Contributing sentiments towards policy:

64% : Students become eligible through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or California Dream Act Application.
60% : Instead of offering to restore suspended government funding in exchange for campus policy overhauls, the government says it will dole out new money and give preference to the universities over others that do not agree to the terms.
57% : "Institutions of higher education are free to develop models and values other than those below," the compact said, "if the institution elects to forego federal benefits.
54% : " In an email sent to colleagues Thursday and shared with The Times, USC Cinematic Arts school professor Howard Rodman summed up his position: "It is abundantly clear that either the universities stand together and refuse the gift of 'prioritized grants,' or higher education in the United States will become a wholly owned subsidiary of MAGA, LLC....
49% : "It's upsetting as a faculty member and a teacher and a product of higher education to see this administration trying to dismantle academic freedom and free speech in such a systematic way," said Devin Griffiths, a USC associate professor of English and comparative literature.
48% : " The bold statement came less than a day after the White House asked the University of Southern California and eight other major universities throughout the country to shift to the right and agree to Trump's views on gender identity, admissions, diversity and free speech among other areas -- in exchange for more favorable access to federal research grants and additional funding.
48% : The 10-page proposed agreement was sent Wednesday to public and private universities, including some of the most selective institutions in the county.
44% : Cal Grants, the state's largest financial aid program to public and private universities, are awarded based on income.
44% : USC has largely maintained a low-profile stance and has avoided making public statements on the president's higher education agenda.
43% : It says colleges would stop considering race, gender and a wide range of other student demographics in the admissions process and to require undergraduate applicants to take the SAT or ACT. USC, since a 2023 Supreme Court decision, is not allowed to consider race in admissions, and public California universities have been barred from doing so under state law since 1997.
40% : Schools that sign on would have to cap tuition for U.S. students for five years and the wealthiest campuses would not charge tuition at all for students pursuing "hard science programs.
37% : Trump said this week that he was "close to finalizing" a deal with Harvard that would include it paying $500 million for a "giant trade school" run by the university.

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