The Trump administration sent the University of Arizona, along with eight other universities, a request to sign a pledge in exchange for better access to federal funds on Wednesday, Oct. 1.

The letter urges university leaders “to sign a ‘Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education’ committing them to adopt the White House’s vision for America’s campuses,” according to the Associated Press. It asks that universities limit international undergraduate enrollment to 15%, freeze tuition for 5 years, accept the government’s definition of gender and apply it to campus bathrooms, locker rooms and women’s sports teams along with other demands.

University of Arizona officials did not respond to a request for comment by the time of publication.

“I think we’re living in unprecedented times, and serving the student body as a whole here at the University of Arizona, it’s a little disappointing and feels like we’re not upholding academic freedom,” said Adriana Grijalva, student body president of the Associated Students of the University of Arizona. “This [presidential] administration has already taken so much from us […] so looking at it as a whole I am worried how much more this administration will affect our university.”

According to Grijalva, she wishes the university was more transparent in communicating with students and faculty about what was going on.

“Students keep asking for that transparency, faculty keeps asking for that transparency,” Grijalva said. “Seeing that on the news on the letter and stuff, it’s not helping us understand what’s going on. We need to make sure we are having those interconnections on what’s happening.”

ASUA At Large Senator Eddie Barrón echoed his disappointment in finding out about the letter through the Arizona Daily Star instead of through the UA administration.

“We are the first in line for students to come and ask about decisions that the university is making, so it’s upsetting and frustrating, but it’s definitely consistent with the way that the university’s administration has been moving so far,” Barrón said.

According to Barrón, it would be irresponsible for the university to contemplate accepting the request due to the absurdity of some of the rhetoric.

“This is something that the Trump administration is moving towards to silence our universities and pressure them into abiding by these policies that he wants,” Barrón said. “I mean, why are we thinking about things like gender and its definition when we have students facing food insecurity on our campus, when we have students who can’t afford tuition or books, when students can’t make rent?”

The student senator stated that UA President Suresh Garimella needs to represent the students that belong to the university he runs as the administration proceeds with their decision.

“He has a responsibility to stand up for the values of this university and for the values of the students on campus,” Barrón said.

The 10-page proposed agreement was also sent to Vanderbilt University, the University of Pennsylvania, Dartmouth College, the University Southern California, MIT, the University of Texas, Brown University and the University of Virginia.

The Trump administration chose the institutions “because it believed they are, or could be, ‘good actors,’ the Wall Street Journal reported, quoting Mary Mailman, the White House’s senior advisor for special projects.” According to the Arizona Daily Star.

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