A Trinity College alumnus is urging the school to rescind its invitation to conservative academic Adam Kissel, accusing him of promoting culture war politics rather than serious scholarship. The letter claims Kissel’s work distracts from “real issues” and argues Trinity risks its reputation by associating with him.
Trinity’s student newspaper, the Trinity Tripod, published the letter under the title “Trump’s Backdoor Into Trinity.” The writer contends that Kissel, a Heritage Foundation fellow, entered the faculty with minimal teaching experience and holds degrees in English, American literature, and social thought—qualifications the author deems weak for his assignment teaching “Theory & Philosophy of Markets.”
The author frames Kissel’s presence as part of a broader “culture war frenzy,” accusing him of targeting universities for alleged constitutional violations while ignoring what the letter describes as the current administration’s assaults on civil liberties. The letter also faults him for purported selective outrage—highlighting free speech concerns on campuses but overlooking immigration and visa‑revocation abuses affecting students globally.
Kissel’s critics argue that institutions like Trinity should guard against partisanship and maintain academic integrity. The alumnus asserts that Trinity’s leadership must reconsider the decision to host Kissel before reputational and institutional harm occurs.
The move highlights growing tensions on campuses over which voices are welcome in academic discourse—and whether institutional gatekeepers are upholding neutrality or tilting toward ideological alliances.
