How ‘anti-woke’ laws and cancel culture combine to chill classroom speech

Michael Hurley  October 24, 2025 1 min read

Michael Hurley 
FIRE

Excerpt: Over the past several years, some politicians have tried to ban or limit discussion of controversial ideas in higher education, particularly those related to critical race theory, gender identity, and diversity, equity, and inclusion. FIRE has been on the front lines of this fight, opposing bills that target classroom speech and challenging those that become law. 

Perhaps in part because of this roadblock, some actors have taken a more indirect approach to removing disfavored ideas from the classroom: a mix of “anti-woke” laws and cancel culture designed to intimidate schools into doing what the state cannot do directly.

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UVA Settles With Justice Department

Josh Moody  October 23, 2025 1 min read

Josh Moody 
Inside Higher Ed

Excerpt: The University of Virginia has reached a settlement agreement with the Department of Justice that will pause pending investigations in exchange for assurances from the public flagship that it will not engage in unlawful practices around admissions, hiring, programming and more.

As part of the deal, UVA agreed to follow a July memo from U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi that bars the use of race in hiring and admissions practices as well as scholarship programs. UVA will be required to provide “relevant information and data” to the DOJ, according to the news release.

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Commentary: College Conservatives Are Thriving

Julia Steinberg October 23, 2025 1 min read

Julia Steinberg
The Atlantic

Excerpt: College campuses today have a reputation for being hostile to right-leaning students. As a recent graduate who became a conservative in college, I can’t say I entirely agree. Yes, we’re outnumbered, and yes, our ideas often get disregarded. Being a conservative might be socially disadvantageous. But if you want to know where the real political energy is on campuses, it’s on the right.

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The UVA Model for a Trump Deal

The Editorial Board October 23, 2025 1 min read

The Editorial Board
Wall Street Journal 

Excerpt: Universities have been in fight mode with the Trump Administration, but it doesn’t have to be that way. On Wednesday the University of Virginia signed an agreement with the Justice Department that pauses all federal investigations against the school, without an enormous ransom or coercive new mandates.


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UVA, Dartmouth Latest to Reject Trump's Higher Ed Compact

Ryan Quinn October 17, 2025 1 min read

Ryan Quinn
Inside Higher Ed

Excerpt: The University of Virginia and Dartmouth College have become the latest higher ed institutions to publicly reject the Trump administration’s “Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education." Now just three of the nine institutions that the federal government originally presented with the document have yet to announce whether they will sign. 

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USC rejects Trump education compact aimed at shifting the university to the right

Daniel Miller and Jaweed Kaleem October 16, 2025 1 min read

Daniel Miller and Jaweed Kaleem
LA Times

Excerpt: The University of Southern California on Thursday rejected the controversial education compact the Trump administration offered it and eight other schools, saying it would undermine “values of free inquiry and academic excellence.”

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