Scholars Arjun Appadurai and Sheldon Pollock published a forceful critique alleging the University of Chicago’s board decisions are undermining the institution’s research mission and academic independence. The op‑ed argues governance moves — including budget reallocations and oversight changes — threaten long‑term scholarly capacity and could hollow out graduate programs and faculty research. The piece raises alarm about how board authority and political pressures can reshape university priorities, with implications for federal research funding, faculty recruitment, and graduate training at a leading research university.