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A group of prominent basketball figures, including NBA championship coaches Steve Kerr and Doc Rivers, signed a public letter Wednesday urging elected officials to stop what they described as growing political interference in universities and college athletics.
The letter was released by the organization Stand For Campus Freedom and argues that increasing political pressure threatens the independence of higher education institutions and the culture surrounding college sports.
Kerr and Rivers were joined by 17 other influential college figures, including Hall of Fame coach Jim Boeheim and former Michigan coach John Beilein.
The group warns that political involvement, including funding cuts, censorship, intimidation of university leadership and the deployment of federal officers on campuses, threatens academic freedom and university governance.
"College athletes inspire us, whether in March Madness, Olympic sports, or a close game of football rivals. College sports unite us as a nation, drawing out team spirit, and shared values of fair play. Campuses — big and small, public and private, two and four-year — are a bedrock foundation for the place of sports in American life," the letter read.
"At both the federal and state levels, acts of political interference threaten the independence of our colleges and universities. Punitive cuts to research funds, censoring of curricula, intimidation of university leaders and faculty, and the deployment of federal enforcement officers on college grounds are dividing our campuses and detracting from teaching and learning. Steep funding cuts put women’s and Olympic sports at risk."
More: BYU star AJ Dybantsa hints at possible return despite No. 1 NBA draft buzz
This comes right before Donald Trump is scheduled to meet with over 40 people in a college sports roundtable. It's important to note that no current players were invited to be a part of the talks that will likely shape NIL compensation for student-athletes.
The signatories urged fans and university leaders to encourage lawmakers to support academic independence and protect the traditional role of college athletics on campuses nationwide.
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- Mike Krzyzewski fights against NCAA Tournament expansion
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