Last November, Northwestern made a deal with the Trump administration to restore nearly $800 million in federal research funding. The 12 page document lays out a series of policies for Northwestern to comply with — namely, ending the 2024 “Deering Meadow Agreement” struck with student protesters, and getting rid of diversity statements during hiring.
On top of that, the University was had to adopt the definitions of “sex,” “female,” “male,” “women,” and “men” in accordance with Executive Order 14168,
Defending Women From Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to
the Federal Government, which essentially looks to define gender as unchangeable and binary.
Student A is a Weinberg undergraduate student who identifies as a member of the trans community. She asked to stay anonymous out of fear of harassment for her identity.
She read the deal right when it got released to the public and wasn’t surprised that these definitions had been baked in.
STUDENT A: That was the first thing I looked for. I’ve experienced looking through this kind of stuff, and that is an order that I’ve paid attention to.
The adoption of definitions from Executive Order 14168 wasn’t the only part of the agreement focused on Northwestern’s trans community. It also ordered Northwestern’s Feinberg School of Medicine to not provide gender affirming care to minors. Northwestern’s Office of The President has clarified that the school has never provided gender transition-related surgeries to minors. The agreement also requires the university to use the Department Of Justice’s “Guidance for Recipients of Federal Funding Regarding Unlawful Discrimination” in employee training. Parts of this training document emphasize that women’s bathrooms and athletic competitions must be protected and that employees must “affirm sex-based boundaries rooted in biological differences.”
When faculty and students returned to Northwestern after the Thanksgiving break, many wondered how this deal would impact their life on campus.
Paola Zamperini is a professor of Asian Languages and Culture and the director of the Gender and Sexuality Studies Program at Northwestern. The deal targeted many topics she teaches in the Gender and Sexuality Studies program, so Zamperini and her colleagues prepared for repercussions. Still, they have yet to come.
PAOLA ZAMPERINI:Both at the level of the Dean of Weinberg’s Office, and also the level of the provost’s office, we have received reassurances that the academic freedom of all Northwestern faculty, not just Gender and Sexuality Studies faculty, are protected.
However, not everything is as avoidable.
ZAMPERINI: Now even if the agreement doesn’t necessarily prevent us from teaching our courses, it does negate the existence of many individuals at Northwestern.
Including Student A who finds herself navigating campus with these new restrictions looming over her.
STUDENT A: The thing that I fear the most is bathroom restrictions, and something that concerns me is, will I get harassed from using the bathroom or just walking around?
So far, Student A has not been harassed for bathroom usage, but she knows of students who have. She wants the University to do something about that.
STUDENT A: I would like to see them take a stance against the harassment that is happening. I don’t think they’re going to, but that’s what I would like to see.
Even before its signing, the prospect of an agreement with the Trump Administration and Northwestern was very divisive. Here’s Zamperini again.
ZAMPERINI: this was maybe in the time that I’ve been at Northwestern, the clearest example of how the administration of the university moves often in directions that are different from those of the faculty
In an October faculty assembly meeting, 595 faculty members, roughly 98% of those in attendance, voted to oppose a potential deal with the Trump Administration that included similar conditions to those in the “Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education.” Many are present in the final deal the Northwestern administration signed.
ZAMPERINI: I’m trying to think as I’m talking to you, if I heard anybody tell me, oh, I’m so happy we signed this agreement. So, I think I’ve not heard anybody, students, faculty, staff being happy about the agreement.
And while Zamperini is able to teach her courses, she now walks on very shaky ground.
ZAMPERINI: There is a great degree of uncertainty, just because now we are able to do that. We’re not really sure things will not change.
Northwestern’s Office of the President responded to questions regarding the deal, including its impact on trans students. The Office says “the agreement places no restrictions on our transgender community. The University unequivocally supports all members of our community, including transgender students, faculty and staff.”
But for Student A, statements of support are not enough.
STUDENT A: They are saying, no, we’re not putting new restrictions. Yeah, you’re not, but you’re telling people, you’re, you’re giving people an indication that you’re amenable to that. That you’re giving people the indication that you are fine with doing that.
As of now, no courses have been canceled and no university policies focusing on trans students have been introduced.
For WNUR News, I’m Sophia Casa