Forde & Pachucki on Democracy Works Podcast

We’re honored to have Stand Together for Higher Ed (STHE) featured on the Democracy Works podcast, where Kathy Roberts Forde and Mark Pachucki shared how faculty and staff are organizing to defend higher education, academic freedom, and democracy.

The conversation highlights the mounting pressures on colleges and universities: cuts to funding, political interference in governance, and efforts to restrict teaching and research. These are not isolated incidents—they reflect a coordinated campaign to weaken higher education’s independence.

STHE emerged as a response to this urgent moment. Building on the idea of Mutual Academic Defense Compacts (MADC)—agreements where campuses pledge to stand together when one is attacked—we are creating a national network that amplifies faculty power. But we know not every campus can pass formal compacts, so we emphasize forming Stand Together Teams: local groups that can take action in ways that fit their own context.

Teams are already organizing teach-ins, writing op-eds, gathering stories of higher ed’s impact, and engaging legislators and community leaders. Each effort strengthens our collective voice. If you’re interested in starting a team, sign up here.