Quinnipiac University’s chapter of the American Association of University Professors hosted “Art for Academic Education” on April 16— an event held as an informational space for anyone to learn about how higher education may be affected as a result of recent executive action.
On March 20, President Donald Trump signed an executive order that would dismantle the Department of Education, returning power over education to the States.
“The Order also directs that programs or activities receiving any remaining Department of Education funds will not advance DEI or gender ideology,” according to the White House official website.
Considering the effects that the order could cause, the QU AAUP held the event to spread awareness and encourage people to take action.
“We’re worried that some of the federal executive orders that have been put into place, especially the things that the federal administration is doing right now in terms of cutting federal funding to universities and in ways that are really threatening things like academic freedom,” Julia Gibblin, co-vice president of QU AAUP and professor of anthropology, said.
The AAUP is a national organization that has worked to create standards for higher education as well as defend academic freedom, among many other goals and efforts.
“An AAUP chapter convenes under the principles and procedures of the AAUP and our profession at large,” according to the QU AAUP official website. “AAUP-QU is committed to protecting academic freedom, strengthening shared governance, and offering thoughtful solutions to the pressing issues of this time. We are not a collective bargaining unit.”
Quinnipiac’s AAUP focuses on several different aspects of higher education.
“Some of the key things that we’re concerned about are making sure that there is shared governance in universities to make sure that faculty have a big say in curriculum for students, as well as the process for how faculty are evaluated,” Gibblin said. “Those are two places where, historically, it’s been a relationship between the administration of the university and the faculty to govern those things.”
Last Wednesday’s event in the Carl Hansen Student Center’s Piazza welcomed all students and faculty to learn about and discuss the federal changes being made.
“We wanted to create a space where people can, like, do art and kind of decompress a little bit from all the things that are happening, but also have the opportunity to speak their mind,” Gibblin said.
There were several different activities for attendees to partake in, as well as snacks and an informational PowerPoint played on loop for the entirety of the event. The slideshow included information on how to find and contact senators.
The event provided postcards for attendees to write and send to their legislators. Attendees also created posters and pins with messages of their choice.
One of the event’s main goals was to encourage students to take action and speak out.
“The goal is just to inform,” Candice Travis, a visiting assistant professor of political science, said. “I think it’s really important for folks to have as much information as possible so that they can make decisions about how they either want to hold representatives accountable, or take political action.”
Sujata Gadkar-Wilcox, associate professor of legal studies and state legislator attended the event and spoke about the issues at hand as well as how people can get involved.
Alongside Wilcox, her Legislative Aide, Jacqueline Roberts ‘24 attended the event as well. Roberts graduated last May with a Bachelor’s of Arts in both Law in Society and Sociology as well as a minor in English. During her time at Quinnipiac, Roberts began interning in Connecticut’s senate, ultimately leading her to her current position.
“We’ve done a lot of work with pretty much all the education committees, and then we also work with libraries and schools about funding and things that are being cut or restricted,” Roberts said. “It’s definitely something that’s important to both of us. So we were really excited to see Quinnipiac doing something for it.”
The event saw great turnout from both students and faculty.
“It was terrific to see so many students in the Piazza generating so much creative artwork and inspiring political messaging,” Hillary Haldane, professor of anthropology, wrote in an email to The Chronicle.
