YuLin Zhen, Staff Photographer

Yale and 23 peer institutions filed a legal brief on June 9 backing Harvard’s lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s revocation of Havard’s federal funding. The universities highlighted the benefits of government-funded research in the brief, which was written in support of Harvard’s motion for summary judgment — a ruling in its favor without a trial.

To six students interviewed by the News, Yale’s legal backing of Harvard was a positive change to the University’s approach to public commentary.

During the fall, Yale advised university leaders to refrain from commenting on topical issues, largely remaining publicly silent about attacks on higher education since the guidance was implemented.

However, in May, University President Maurie McInnis urged Yale community members to contact their senators and advocate against a Republican budget bill that would raise the tax on Yale’s endowment.

Jack Dozier ’27, speaking on behalf of the Yale College Democrats, said he feels positively about Yale’s decision to join in filing. He said the University’s decision to support Harvard reflects both a show of institutional strength and a vested interest in protecting its access to federal aid.

“It certainly could be seen as beneficial for the university to join in this case,” Dozier told the News during an interview. “Not only because it is an opportunity to share the strength of the University and the voice we have nationally, but it is also an opportunity to show that Yale is not a force to be reckoned with.”

Emily Hettinger ’26 also said that she was pleased with Yale’s decision to join the brief. She told the News that she was previously frustrated with the University’s limited public response, and said Yale occupies a “unique position” because of its substantial financial resources, which enable the institution to speak out.

Hettinger acknowledged that Yale’s limited public statements on political challenges to higher education institutions may reflect a “strategy to not becoming a target” for such attacks.

Tisa Wenger, a Yale professor and executive committee member for Yale’s American Association of University Professors chapter, was involved in organizing a letter — signed by over 1,000 faculty members — which urged the University to take a public stance in defense of academic freedom and democratic values.

Wenger believes that the Yale administration had previously favored a behind-the-scenes strategy to avoid attracting political scrutiny. She noted that while this strategy has so far been apparently effective in protecting Yale from becoming a federal target — the University remains one of only two Ivy League schools to not face a direct threat to government funding — many faculty felt it was time for a broader collective response.

“Bullies will keep bullying,” Wenger told the News. “Trying to avoid being the next target might work for a while, but in the long term, that is going to destroy the sector. We just have to stand up and say no.”

Wenger described a small meeting in April with McInnis and Provost Scott Strobel, attended by members of the executive committees of Yale’s Faculty Senate and American Association of University Professors chapter. During that conversation, Wenger said, faculty pushed the administration to join other universities in a unified public response to federal investigations.

William Barbee ’26, the president of the Buckley Institute — an organization dedicated to fostering “intellectual diversity” at Yale — described the brief as an overall positive action. He praised University McInnis and her response to the situation, remarking that she has “weighed in appropriately” and made comments in Yale’s best interest.

Evan Lu ’27 told the News that he was “proud” of Yale’s decision to back Harvard, noting that Harvard’s lawsuit reflects broader implications to research and federal funding for all universities. He said that he was satisfied with the University’s overarching public response, noting that Yale needed to be “practical.”

Over 30 separate parties — including the American Civil Liberties Union, Harvard’s student-led Palestine Solidarity Committee, twenty U.S. states and the District of Columbia — have sought to file amicus briefs in Harvard’s lawsuit against the federal Department of Health and Human Services.

Olivia Woo contributed reporting.