We are a republic, but young people must save it

Welcome to the denouement of American democracy.

Donald Trump was elected the 47th President of the United States of America in what can only be described as a landslide victory. This is the person who uses violent language when discussing his political opponents, wants imprison journalists and plans deport tens of millions of people including Gaza protesters on college campuses. He is a man who loves autocrats and plans To rule How fascist myself.

The second rise of Trump represents the dramatic and clear failure of American institutions, including universities, to resist fascism. And now we just have to deal with the consequences.

In the coming days, we—as an institution and as individuals—must radically rethink our role in American society. Get ready, Princeton: In a country sliding toward authoritarianism, universities like ours must become bastions of democracy. Silence in the face of fascism is not neutrality, it is tacit consent.

So what should we do? How do we become this bastion of democracy?

Institutionally, Princeton must do everything possible to completely abandon institutional neutrality and become more committed to our stated values. Take it from University President Christopher Eisgruber ’83. myself: “We must stand up for our values.” Well, the second Trump administration is the enemy of the vast majority University Commitmentsincluding freedom of speech, freedom of research, diversity, public good and sustainability.

Princeton and other American universities should look abroad for examples of universities becoming bastions of democracy. University of Hong Kong for a long time stood as a bulwark of freedom against the Chinese regime until China toppled it. Central European University in Hungary served as a defender of free expression of ideas before the Orbán regime forced it’s from the country. In Brazil, public universities pushed opposed the authoritarian values ​​of autocrat Jair Bolsonaro until Bolsonaro cut their funding.

All these universities opposed fascism, but were suppressed. As a world-renowned private research university, Princeton has a chance to succeed. The University must immediately renew its commitment to upholding democracy, freedom of expression and academic freedom. He often has to take a strong stance in response to Trump administration policies that threaten those ideals.

And today, Princeton must act proactively to protect its students, faculty, and staff from the threat of a second Trump administration. It should move to protect international and undocumented students against the threat of deportation. It must be ready for separate independently obtain federal research funding through donations. It should promote, not suppressstrong tradition of student protest.

If the university does not take action, it will be completely unprepared for the all-out attack on universities that will begin on January 20th. promised to “take back” universities from the “Marxist maniacs and lunatics” who he claims control them – they do not: Trump is clearly turning universities into frontmen for the purpose of attacking them. He proclaimed that “our secret weapon will be the college accreditation system,” and explained that by removing accreditors, he would be able to exercise greater control over universities. Vice President-Elect J.D. Vance defended for universities “controlled by American taxpayers” while praising Orbán’s efforts to crack down on universities.

The university must recognize the mortal threat to democracy, freedom of expression, and academic freedom posed by the incoming administration, and it must act proactively to become a bulwark against it. Moreover, Princeton students must be strong and active advocates for the preservation of American democracy. We must end ours notorious apathy and stand up for this country that we all love. We must end our inaction and stand up for our friends and neighbors who hail from overseas. We must – in the tradition of the brave young people of past generations who held sit-ins, organized “Freedom Attractions” and protested against an unjust war—become the loud, ubiquitous voice of young people in American society who demand better.

Princeton, the time for complacency and disinterest is over. In the future, history books—if there are any at all—will either remember the failure of American institutions to protect our democracy, or they will paint a picture of our universities, press, and public servants as the last line of defense against the petty tyrant who tried—and failed—to take from us our most fundamental freedoms.

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So if you say you don’t care about politics, stop because politics cares about you, whether you like it or not. We are all being pushed towards the abyss of tyranny, and we must push back.

Ben Franklin famously told a woman after the Constitutional Convention that the United States had “a republic—if you can keep it.” It’s time to fight for our republic and prove that America, no matter how far it may fall into fascism, will always stand for democracy and freedom throughout the world. Today we have a republic, but only if we can keep it.

Isaac Barsoom is a freshman opinion writer from Charlotte, North Carolina, intending to major in politics. You can contact him at itbarsoum(at)princeton.edu.