We are an active Advocacy Chapter
Chapter membership has grown by more than 280% from 2025 to 2026. National dues-paying membership has grown by 820% from 2024 to early 2026
We challenged BU’s removal of Pride flags and restrictions on campus expression, joining faculty and students in defending academic freedom. In April 2026, BU announced a pause in the removal of outward-facing signs. See our In the In the Media page for details.
In October 2026, BU AAUP joined a federal lawsuit challenging changes to green card application rules alongside national AAUP, the Harvard AAUP chapter, and other plaintiffs. See our In the In the Media page for details.
We monitor academic freedom and document free speech infringement at BU in our living Free Speech Statement, meeting with the admin about concerns including suppression of free speech
Following a massive email campaign directed at BU Board, President, Deans, and elected officials aimed at shuttering a webinar by BU faculty on antisemitism, we worked with six area AAUP chapters to draft a letter to the BU President, affirming why BU should support the event taking place. Our pressure created the conditions for the event to take place, with an audience of 200+. A recording of the event is now on a BU webpage
After UC-Berkeley turned “comprehensive documents” over to the Trump administration on 160 students and faculty as part of the administration’s bad faith attacks on antisemitism, we demanded the BU administration to (a) notify affected faculty and AAUP immediately of USG requests or directives here, (b) protect free speech and university values, (c) notify faculty and AAUP should they choose to comply. As a result, BU agreed to protect the privacy of our community
We organized Town Halls on (a) the attacks on higher education and (b) cuts and erosion of faculty governance at BU to empower faculty with information and build solidarity
Our Mutual Academic Defense Compact Resolution campaign exposed structural problems in the university’s Faculty Council, which is supposed to be the representative body for faculty voice
We organized ‘Teach Ins’ to build capacity on (1) DEI and free speech, (2) authoritarianism, (3) ICE policy, (4) institutional neutrality and academic freedom
We held regular vigils to draw attention to international student mistreatment and free speech violations on campus
We filed an amicus brief for the AAUP v Rubio case (which AAUP won) and participated in related gatherings outside the court
We pressed the administration to offer a more robust response to the challenges international students face, which led BU's administration to announce BU Support Pathways. The chapter subsequently advocated for further support
We distributed 1,000 “Unity in Diversity” pins for the BU community and donated $1000 to Gay for Good
We have worked to build cross-chapter solidarity and capacity in Boston
Led by Co-Presidents Mary Battenfeld (msclavelsaid@gmail.com) and Joseph Harris (jharris823@gmail.com). Email us if you’d like to connect!