EVANSTON, Ill. (WLS) — One professor, part of a larger group of concerned faculty, says Northwestern University’s path forward should not be to “give in” to the Trump administration, but to stand up for higher education

A group of Northwestern faculty members is urging university leadership, in a letter, to avoid brokering any deal with the Trump administration as a result of an investigation into alleged antisemitism on campus.

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A deal could mean the end of the civil rights probe and a release of $790 million in federal funding withheld as part of the investigation. But some faculty members say if the university comes to an agreement with the administration, there could be more consequences to higher education institutions overall

“It will go to other universities. And I don’t even believe that it will stop at Northwestern. The Trump administration has demonstrated that it is not trustworthy in sticking to the kinds of agreements that it makes,” said Northwestern University Sociology Professor Laura Beth Nielsen.

The Wall Street Journal first reported that Northwestern was in talks with the Trump administration that could yield a deal similar to what played out with Columbia University.

The school in New York agreed to pay $220 million in a settlement over federal discrimination claims in exchange for the reinstatement of federal grants.

Nielsen says she and other faculty members decided to write a letter to university leadership upon learning of Columbia’s agreement.

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“It really motivated us to want to speak out before such a deal is made and implore our Board of Trustees and our president to not capitulate. Don’t give in to this blackmail. We know it’s going to be a tough road, but it won’t stop here, and it won’t stop here,” Nielsen said.

And on Tuesday. the university announced hundreds of layoffs, citing “mounting financial pressure.”

Northwestern says it will cut staff by 5% and of the 425 positions being eliminated, nearly half are vacant.

In a statement, the university said, in part, “This is a difficult day for Northwestern, and we are carrying out today’s actions with care and compassion… Today’s reduction in workforce will help ensure our University can continue to serve its mission to be one of the world’s great institutions of teaching and research for generations to come.”

As for the letter directed toward Northwestern leaders, including the university president and board of trustees, the university did not immediately respond to ABC7’s requests for comment.

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