Yay! I was thinking of applying to grad school at both schools.
Also, I can attest that USC is responsive to trans students needs - I wrote an email complaining that one application doesn't have a preferred name slot. I got a response in just a few days saying they are working on adding it and would add it manually for me in the meantime. It was hard to stand up for myself but it really is true that the best advocate is ourselves. Thanks Erin!
I love how universities are standing up for the rights of human beings. It confirms my beliefs that they’re actual institutions of higher learning. That’s what scares the tRumpers - they don’t want an educated populous. Stupid people are much easier to manipulate than those that are educated.
Hi all, I work at the university of arizona and we didn't reject the Compact. We sent a letter to the feds saying that we want to work with them, that we will engage to some extent in surveys, and listed our current standards of excellence. No mention of bathrooms. We did point to our non discrimination policy which still includes sexual orientation and gender identity as protected groups.
We now wait to hear from the feds. It seems like the UA wants to negotiate a deal.
I don't want to be too pedantic, but virtually every outlet is reporting it as a rejection of the compact, and the letter rejecting it specifically says "the university has not agreed to the terms outlined in the draft proposal."
The important thing is, given some universities DID roll over, there will not be a trans bathroom ban on campus at least in the medium term. I get that their letter was probably overly conciliatory and indicated a willingness to "have a national conversation" but this is definitely a win, even in the immediate term, given what some other institutions have done.
Hi, yes, I have read the reports as well and they aren't particularly reflective of the letter that was sent (we got a copy). However, the negotiations can go in many directions so I dont feel like we know much at this time. Seems like a lot is still up in the air...
That's great news. It's nice to see them standing up to Trump. Unfortunately, that won't happen here in Texas. They are going after professors that even mention the word Transgender. One of my daughters is attending UT Austin Law School right now. She is a strong ally.
Yes, I've read Texas faculty can be fired simply for using the words "pronoun" and "transgender". Missouri is looking at something similar. I hate what America has become. I dislike the evil, the murder, the genocide, and always HAVE, but the currently omnipresent and pluripotent STUPID is a crushing weight upon my soul. The sheer colossality and unquantifiability of the STUPID is as mind numbing as it is spiritually debilitating, stultifying.
Yes, they really hate us here. I am happy to live in a very blue area of the state. We are about as far removed from Austing as we can be and still be in the state.
This is wonderful the more that stand up to the bully the better it gets for everyone. The only thing a bully understands is strength take it from someone who grew up in a very bad neighborhood and had to stand up and be counted everyday. We need more and more to have a big pair and stand tall push back and not bend the knee
It's obvious this would happen because these institutions have a big job to do, providing an environment for a variety of students, Trump is a madman imposing Project 2025 on them, forget it, we'll take the power back by force if need be. Trans people are deserving of respect and having a dignified existence, without assholes marginalizing them for political gain. Revolution.
Every institution approached by trump to capitulate should know that once they capitulate on one thing, trump will ask for more. he is never satisfied. Money that they think they will get if they capitulate on transgender rights will be withheld for some other arbitrary reason. Standing up to trump is the only thing that works.
This is great news! It’s just so sad to see so many institutions caving to fascism and being so willing to throw our community under the bus. I don’t know about anybody else, but I’m keeping track of those who caved and forgiveness is most definitely not going to be forthcoming anytime soon.
"Of all the Ivy League universities that have come to a settlement with the Trump administration, Columbia is the only institution to not include a concrete definition of who is considered a “woman” in its agreement. The Trump administration’s settlements with Brown University and the University of Pennsylvania elaborate on their “biological” definitions indicated in Trump’s executive orders.
“Longstanding Columbia policies remain in effect, including those protecting students’ ability to live in single-sex housing or opt into gender-neutral housing with other students regardless of sex, gender, gender identity or gender expression, participate in student activities, and use facilities consistent with their gender identity,” a University spokesperson wrote in a statement to Spectator."
That's a stretch - Columbia folded pretty hard, even the link you just posted mention it. Even without the definition of what a woman is, the university is being very cagey about where students stand.
"While the University’s commitment aligns with previous policy and practice, some students expressed concern over whether transgender and gender nonconforming individuals will continue to see the same support from the University after its deal with Trump."
"Some representatives of LGBTQ student organizations, however, expressed their concerns about the University’s lack of a definition, worrying that it leaves too much up to interpretation.
“Woman is such a diverse term, and I feel like the administration is going to intentionally do whatever they want to do,” Kevin Gutierrez-Maldonado, CC ’27, co-editor in chief of Columbia’s queer and feminist theory journal Qu(e)ry, told Spectator."
and also the president will be "reviewing compliance" at Columbia, which Columbia agreed to.
Makes sense. I thought there was a slight but important difference and that the lack of definition was a loophole out of compliance with trump - wishful thinking I guess.
Yay! I was thinking of applying to grad school at both schools.
Also, I can attest that USC is responsive to trans students needs - I wrote an email complaining that one application doesn't have a preferred name slot. I got a response in just a few days saying they are working on adding it and would add it manually for me in the meantime. It was hard to stand up for myself but it really is true that the best advocate is ourselves. Thanks Erin!
At least some of the universities in this country don’t just bow down and submit at the first sign of resistance.
More good news! May the 2025 elections and '26 midterms be wonderful!
Thank you Erin.
I love how universities are standing up for the rights of human beings. It confirms my beliefs that they’re actual institutions of higher learning. That’s what scares the tRumpers - they don’t want an educated populous. Stupid people are much easier to manipulate than those that are educated.
It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich university to do the right thing...
Harvard '93, Columbia Law '96, very ashamed of both schools right now!
Hi all, I work at the university of arizona and we didn't reject the Compact. We sent a letter to the feds saying that we want to work with them, that we will engage to some extent in surveys, and listed our current standards of excellence. No mention of bathrooms. We did point to our non discrimination policy which still includes sexual orientation and gender identity as protected groups.
We now wait to hear from the feds. It seems like the UA wants to negotiate a deal.
I don't want to be too pedantic, but virtually every outlet is reporting it as a rejection of the compact, and the letter rejecting it specifically says "the university has not agreed to the terms outlined in the draft proposal."
The important thing is, given some universities DID roll over, there will not be a trans bathroom ban on campus at least in the medium term. I get that their letter was probably overly conciliatory and indicated a willingness to "have a national conversation" but this is definitely a win, even in the immediate term, given what some other institutions have done.
Keep fighting though, y'all are doing great.
Hi, yes, I have read the reports as well and they aren't particularly reflective of the letter that was sent (we got a copy). However, the negotiations can go in many directions so I dont feel like we know much at this time. Seems like a lot is still up in the air...
Odd, I’m seeing many legit sources stating they rejected tRump’s demands. I’m hoping they’re not just playing word games.
Yes, Liz, I agree. I guess we didn't agree outright to the compact, so news may be spinning it thru rose colored glasses...? I donno...
That's great news. It's nice to see them standing up to Trump. Unfortunately, that won't happen here in Texas. They are going after professors that even mention the word Transgender. One of my daughters is attending UT Austin Law School right now. She is a strong ally.
Yes, I've read Texas faculty can be fired simply for using the words "pronoun" and "transgender". Missouri is looking at something similar. I hate what America has become. I dislike the evil, the murder, the genocide, and always HAVE, but the currently omnipresent and pluripotent STUPID is a crushing weight upon my soul. The sheer colossality and unquantifiability of the STUPID is as mind numbing as it is spiritually debilitating, stultifying.
Yes, they really hate us here. I am happy to live in a very blue area of the state. We are about as far removed from Austing as we can be and still be in the state.
This is wonderful the more that stand up to the bully the better it gets for everyone. The only thing a bully understands is strength take it from someone who grew up in a very bad neighborhood and had to stand up and be counted everyday. We need more and more to have a big pair and stand tall push back and not bend the knee
It's obvious this would happen because these institutions have a big job to do, providing an environment for a variety of students, Trump is a madman imposing Project 2025 on them, forget it, we'll take the power back by force if need be. Trans people are deserving of respect and having a dignified existence, without assholes marginalizing them for political gain. Revolution.
Every institution approached by trump to capitulate should know that once they capitulate on one thing, trump will ask for more. he is never satisfied. Money that they think they will get if they capitulate on transgender rights will be withheld for some other arbitrary reason. Standing up to trump is the only thing that works.
This is great news! It’s just so sad to see so many institutions caving to fascism and being so willing to throw our community under the bus. I don’t know about anybody else, but I’m keeping track of those who caved and forgiveness is most definitely not going to be forthcoming anytime soon.
Am I correct in saying Univ of Texas agreed to the govt demand, and Vanderbilt hasn't responded?
Safety in numbers, strength in unity--let's hope this is momentum and that it persists.
Great news, thank you! Rejecting hatred, bigotry, fear, ignorance.
Columbia didn't fold entirely the way Harvard or Brown did.
https://www.columbiaspectator.com/news/2025/10/14/lgbtq-student-group-members-on-where-columbias-settlement-with-trump-leaves-them/
"Of all the Ivy League universities that have come to a settlement with the Trump administration, Columbia is the only institution to not include a concrete definition of who is considered a “woman” in its agreement. The Trump administration’s settlements with Brown University and the University of Pennsylvania elaborate on their “biological” definitions indicated in Trump’s executive orders.
“Longstanding Columbia policies remain in effect, including those protecting students’ ability to live in single-sex housing or opt into gender-neutral housing with other students regardless of sex, gender, gender identity or gender expression, participate in student activities, and use facilities consistent with their gender identity,” a University spokesperson wrote in a statement to Spectator."
That's a stretch - Columbia folded pretty hard, even the link you just posted mention it. Even without the definition of what a woman is, the university is being very cagey about where students stand.
"While the University’s commitment aligns with previous policy and practice, some students expressed concern over whether transgender and gender nonconforming individuals will continue to see the same support from the University after its deal with Trump."
"Some representatives of LGBTQ student organizations, however, expressed their concerns about the University’s lack of a definition, worrying that it leaves too much up to interpretation.
“Woman is such a diverse term, and I feel like the administration is going to intentionally do whatever they want to do,” Kevin Gutierrez-Maldonado, CC ’27, co-editor in chief of Columbia’s queer and feminist theory journal Qu(e)ry, told Spectator."
and also the president will be "reviewing compliance" at Columbia, which Columbia agreed to.
Makes sense. I thought there was a slight but important difference and that the lack of definition was a loophole out of compliance with trump - wishful thinking I guess.