World Economic Forum via Wikimedia Commons

On Monday, former University President Richard Levin GRD ’74 addressed members of the Yale community at an event hosted at the Yale Center of British Art. 

He asserted that it is an unprecedented time for higher education, advising universities to emphasize their positive contributions to the United States amid national scrutiny. 

Levin’s talk was a part of the “Leading Universities: Tales from the Trenches II” speaker series, which features four former Yale administrators. Levin’s speech focused on his efforts to navigate Yale’s relationship with unions and New Haven during his term. Responding to audience questions at the end of the event, Levin touched on the current climate surrounding higher education. 

“Universities are more threatened today than at any time, and certainly in my memory, and even more threatened than they were by the McCarthy episode,” Levin said, referring to widespread American paranoia about communism in the 1950s spurred by Sen. Joseph McCarthy, who frequently accused universities of harboring communist faculty and students.

He noted that the University needs to “examine” itself, considering the causes behind decreased public support. However, Levin emphasized that universities should highlight their contributions to the United States’ economy in the wake of increased scrutiny. 

He pointed to the research conducted at the university level, referencing a recent column in The New York Times. The piece, written by David Singer ’84, contends that current presidential advisors, who are involved with the tech industry, benefited from federal investment in research.

“We need to send our message loud and clear. At the same time, we need to examine ourselves to make sure that we win the confidence of the public,” Levin said. He added that he hopes President Maurie McInnis’ “Committee on Trust in Higher Education” will help the University develop its public image. 

The committee — composed of ten faculty members — was established in mid-April with the goal of developing further understanding of the University’s public perception and bolstering trust in institutions of higher education. 

Levin’s remarks come alongside McInnis’s message to the Yale community on Monday. She asserted her commitment to promoting “an independent higher education sector” and freedom of expression on campuses, a principle for which universities have been criticized for allegedly failing to uphold. 

In response to an audience member’s question about the endowment and the discourse surrounding its use to offset funding concerns, Levin said that he believes the University could financially “endure” the next four years even amid uncertainty regarding federal funding. 

“It’s been financially good times for the University. We have a lot of reserves. We have access to credit. We’re way below our debt capacity,” he said, noting that the University’s current debt is only 11 percent of its total assets. “There’s room to borrow, and borrowing might be a good strategy.” 

However, Levin acknowledged that he understands the need to avoid large salary increases, as well as significant staff expansion, while emphasizing the importance of “keep[ing] the science going.”

Over 100 professors recently signed a letter addressed to McInnis and Provost Scott Strobel, calling for the University to freeze hiring. The document was released after Yale’s announcement that it intends to curb hiring and faculty raises. 

Levin served as University president from 1993 to 2013.