UNE President’s Forum to examine higher education’s role in a polarized era on April 6

How did higher education become so politicized, and has it always been this way? Are recent government actions aimed at universities necessary counterweights to restore ideological balance on campus, or do they represent a dangerous overreach that threatens academic independence? 

And, in an era of intensifying national debate, how can colleges and universities rebuild the public trust they once broadly enjoyed?

These questions and more will be explored as the University of New England hosts the next installment of its signature President’s Forum series, “Universities Under Fire: Perceived Faculty Bias, Government Backlash, and the Battle for Public Trust,” on Monday, April 6, at 6 p.m. in Room 283 of the Harold Alfond Forum on UNE’s Biddeford Campus. The event is free and open to the public.

Since its inception in 2018, UNE’s President’s Forum has served as a platform for thoughtful discourse, reflecting the academy’s longstanding role as a marketplace of ideas where diverse perspectives on challenging topics can be explored with civility and mutual respect.

“At a time when higher education is facing heightened political scrutiny, it is more important than ever for universities to remain places where complex, controversial ideas can be explored openly and thoughtfully. This is the very intent of the President’s Forum,” said UNE President James Herbert. “This particular event invites our communities to examine the challenges facing higher education today and to reflect on how universities can continue to serve the public good while sustaining a culture of inquiry, debate, and mutual respect.”

The discussion will feature two UNE faculty experts:

• Andrew Rotondo, Ph.D., associate teaching professor of philosophy and assistant academic director in the UNE School of Arts and Humanities
• John Waterman, Ph.D., associate teaching professor of philosophy 

The conversation will be moderated by Sarah Delage, UNE associate vice president of Communications.

Panelists will examine how higher education has become a focal point in national cultural and political debates, including questions about ideological diversity on college campuses, the role of government in shaping campus policies, and whether universities can regain the broad public confidence they historically enjoyed.

The conversation will also consider the forces driving today’s politicization of higher education while also debating whether universities can effectively reform themselves or if government intervention is necessary. The discussion will further examine what “ideological balance” might realistically mean in practice and whether some academic programs or institutions may naturally reflect differing philosophical or political traditions.

The event will include audience participation, with attendees invited to pose questions and share perspectives following the moderated discussion. Community members are encouraged to attend in person, though the event will also be livestreamed at www.une.edu/live.