Bangladesh, April 23 -- In a bold and unified stand, more than 100 US academic leaders have signed a joint statement denouncing the current federal administrations increasingly aggressive posture toward the nations colleges and universities. The declaration, issued on April 22, comes in response to what academic leaders describe as “unprecedented government overreach” and attempts to politicize and control the intellectual heart of American society: its institutions of higher learning.

The statement-endorsed by presidents and leaders from elite institutions including Princeton University, Brown University, the University of Hawaii, and the Connecticut State Community College system-calls for an end to undue federal interferen...