BELLINGHAM, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – Western Washington University has joined leaders of more than 400 institutions across the country in pushing back against what they call coercion by the Trump administration.

Western president Sabah Randhawa recently signed his name on a letter titled “A Call for Constructive Engagement.”

Without highlighting any particular instance, the schools call actions by the administration “unprecedented government overreach and political interference” that endanger American higher education.

President Trump signed a series of executive actions on Wednesday in an attempt to end what he calls “wokeness” and diversity efforts in education. The schools say in the letter they welcome “constructive reform” and “legitimate government oversight.”

But they accuse the Trump Administration of intrusion into the lives of students and faculty, and of “coercive use of public research funding.”

The statement says that these institutions are diverse but must have the common freedom to determine on academic grounds whom to admit, hire and what and how to teach.

WWU now joins the University of Washington, Central Washington, Eastern Washington and others from across the state that have signed the letter.

It comes as UW announced on Thursday, April 24 that eight students whose visas had been revoked have had their legal status reinstated.