Although deeply worrisome, Northwestern University’s recent surrender to President Donald Trump’s ongoing bid to control higher education comes as no surprise (“Northwestern deal with Trump administration divides students, faculty,” Dec 2). The university has joined a prominent group of academic institutions that have capitulated to Trump’s ideological demands. From ending diversity, equity and inclusion programming to limiting campus space for transgender students, Northwestern has unraveled the social fabric of university life.

In canceling the 2024 Deering Meadow Agreement, the university has also withdrawn from its negotiated commitment to students protesting Israel’s genocide in Gaza. This is not only a violation of students’ rights but also a breach of the principles of higher education. Universities should be places of open thought and discourse. Instead, Northwestern has allowed the federal government to infringe upon where students can belong and how they can identify — while suppressing their human rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. In stifling student protesters and undermining protections for LGBTQ+ students, Northwestern has sent a chilling message to its students: Their needs, rights and identities come second to the ideological demands of the U.S. government.

As this climate of fear spreads throughout universities across the country, it is imperative that university leaders choose courage over compliance. They must stand firm in defending their students and preserving the academic integrity of their institutions, refuse to cave to political pressure and show the Trump administration that political coercion has no place in higher education.

— Justin Mazzola, deputy director of research, Amnesty International USA, New York

NU paying for fascism

What a shame that Northwestern University bent its knee to our current White House occupant. Our institutions need to stand pat and not bow under financial pressure. After all, what is the price of  our democracy?

To pay for fascism is a shame that will taint Northwestern for years to come.

— Chuck Kessler, Northbrook

Jewish students’ safety

Elizabeth Shakman Hurd, a professor and department chair at Northwestern University, wrote an op-ed published Dec. 3, “Northwestern’s deal with federal government is not about antisemitism.” Unfortunately, the current debate regarding government policies toward higher education and the First Amendment ignores a real underlying problem — what is happening on college campuses to Jewish students. I can’t speak to government motives, but Hurd is misrepresenting facts about Northwestern and Israel and applying double standards.

Hurd asserts that Northwestern has never been unsafe for Jews. News outlets have reported on incidents at Northwestern after the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack involving antisemitic vandalism and accusations of threats, slurs and other expressions of hate toward Jewish students. This environment is not safe for Jews.

The professor also asserts the government’s policies suppress free speech. The only suppression of free speech at Northwestern appears to be suppression of pro-Israel speech.

Hurd concludes her comments by noting that “singling out the state of Israel for special protection as a state exclusively for Jews may seem like a way of protecting Jews. Those premises and promises are up for debate. And should remain so.” Today, about 21% of the population of Israel is Ara — Muslims, Christians and members of the Druze. As citizens, they vote and are legislators and judges; they have even served on the Israeli Supreme Court. They constitute 25% of all physicians in Israel and represent about 19% of students enrolled in Israeli universities.

Debate government’s policies, but don’t ignore how Jewish students are treated on campuses or sweep antisemitism under the rug.

— Steve Frost, Buffalo Grove

Value of Palestinian lives

The return of the body of one Israeli hostage is national news in the United States.

But what about the thousands of Palestinian children whose bodies lie buried beneath the rubble in Gaza, which is slated to become construction sites under President Donald Trump’s 20-point peace plan?

Is there an answer, other than racism, that explains why Palestinian lives are worth so much less?

— Terry Hansen, Grafton, Wisconsin

Targets for detainment

I grew up in a small family business at 137 S. Albany Ave., a few blocks from Marshall High School on Chicago’s West Side. The company made paper tubes for mailing and packaging. We had a dozen employees, many from Mexico. I remember them well — Candelario, Esther, Jose and Antonio. Good people. Salt of the earth. These folks worked with my family for years.

Once, one of our employees, Jose M., was picked up by immigration agents and taken to a downtown detention center. I was in college at the time, and I went downtown to see what I could do. I showed agents Jose’s work records and W-2’s. A few weeks later, he was released and back at work.

Fast-forward to today: I am in favor of a controlled border, though I believe America should have a compassionate immigration system. President Donald Trump announced that he would control the border and zero in on arresting, detaining and deporting the criminals, drug mules and bad people. However, Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Border Patrol seem to concentrate on day care teachers, landscape workers, students, nannies, restaurant employees and children. Agents even lie in wait for those applying for green cards. Instead of focusing on bad actors and evildoers, they target folks with jobs, spouses of citizens and those who have lived here awhile. And this is happening in my neighborhood!

I agree with collaring the bad guys. But most immigrants who have lived and worked for years in America, who have families and pay taxes, are not “bad.” Targeting them is not only counterproductive but also contradicts the declared primary objective.

— Scott W. Petersen, Wilmette

Beauty — and cruelty

The absolutely gorgeous photo of a puddle reflecting fall leaves, taken by Tribune photojournalist John J. Kim, filled my heart with joy at God‘s beauty. Unfortunately, right below it on Page 5 of the Dec. 5 Tribune were photos of the Nativity scene at Lake Street Church of Evanston by Jillian Westerfield, associate minister, that broke my heart. They demonstrate not the beauty of God but the cruelty of man that is happening in our country right now. The Nativity portrays baby Jesus, with his wrists zip-tied, lying in a blanket of aluminum foil. Mary and Joseph are in respirators protecting their son from “masked centurions” labeled “ICE.”

The inhuman treatment of immigrants by Immigration and Customs Enforcement depicted in this Nativity scene brings to mind the Bible quote: “Jesus wept.”

How did our country get here, in which behavior like this by federal agents is accepted and normalized? Religious people must stand up in resistance. We are all children of God.

I also wept reading the powerful article by Richard Requena (“‘We just really saw a parallel’”).

— Elizabeth Butler Marren, Chicago

Illinois GOP candidates

As a lifelong Republican and a resident of the Chicago area for 50 years, I would love to follow state Rep. Dan Ugaste’s advice (“Stop one-party control,” Dec. 5) and vote Republican. However, voting for the candidates put forth by the current MAGA zealots and Jan. 6 deniers who control the Illinois Republican Party is not going to happen.

Provide some quality candidates who merit my trust, and I would be happy to stop voting for the least objectionable Democrat.

— James Miller, La Grange Park

Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/09/letters-120925-northwestern/