Three dozen Yale students, professors, and New Haven community members testified before the aldermanic Health Human Services Committee Thursday evening — and called on Yale to uphold its institutional independence, contribute more to its host city, and reject a potential settlement with the Trum p administration over the university’s admissions policies. Ultimately, the committee alders — Kampton Singh, Frank Douglass, Theresa Morant, Frank Redente, Sarah Miller, and Elias Theodore — favorably endorsed a proposal calling on Yale not to strike such a settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice. The item now heads to the full Board of Alders for further review and a final vote. The resolution — “Urging Yale University to Defend its Institutional Autonomy” — was authored by Theodore, who represents Downtown/Yale’s Ward 1. The resolution is an “opportunity to say clearly that we are not about what’s happening in Washington, and we don’t support any effort to succumb to pressure here,” said Fair Haven Alder and Committee Vice Chair Sarah Miller. “I’ve been really proud of New Haven standing up in very meaningful ways,” she said. The city is currently involved in six ongoing lawsuits against the Trump administration.   A coalition of students, led by Theodore among others, have been campaigning against the potential settlement since June. Yale President Maurie McInnis confirmed in July that the university was in talks with the DOJ, but has not released any more information about the potential settlement since.  “It is Yale’s longstanding practice not to discuss the specifics of any ongoing legal matter,” a Yale spokesperson told the Independent. “That said, Yale is committed to following the law and has continued to provide information to the DOJ regarding our admissions processes as required. Yale’s commitment to academic freedom is absolute and its admissions and hiring decisions will continue to be made independently and in accordance with the law.” Although Theodore said he had invited both McInnis and Associate Vice President for New Haven Affairs and University Properties Alexandra Daum, no representatives from Yale attended Thursday’s hearing.  In opening testimony, Theodore said that, “throughout this second Trump term, New Haven has protected our most vulnerable residents and our city’s values, even when doing so came with significant financial or political risks.” He continued, “it is disappointing that Yale, an institution that should stand up with its host city and be a partner in this fight, is preparing to cut a deal with an administration whose actions have raised serious concerns among so many in our community.” In their testimonies, under three minutes each, undergraduate students as well as students from the law and medical schools demanded that Yale uphold its values and institutional independence, while New Haven residents and local-labor representatives from New Haven Rising and Local 34 reprimanded the university for considering paying out a settlement when it could contribute more to the city. “There is plenty of money,” said Local 34 Vice President and former Wooster Square Alder Ellen Cupo, saying Yale should “stop blaming the federal government for university austerity,” mentioning cuts to staff size and budget. Yale College Dean Pericles Lewis announced Thursday there would be no new cuts this year, according to reporting from the Yale Daily News. Yale increased its voluntary contribution to New Haven by $5 million per year in March. “We know that settlements at other universities have come with enormous Treasury payments,” said Conor Webb, a Yale junior. “Brown paid $50 million. Northwestern, $75 million. Columbia, over $200 million dollars. It’s not hard to imagine a Yale settlement in this range. How big might our blank check be? I want that money to go to New Haven. I want it to be used to defend the community violence intervention programs this city relies on.” Apart from the 37 people who testified in front of the committee on Thursday , another dozen professors, policymakers, and alders submitted written testimony via email.  “Under the Trump administration, my immigrant friends fear to speak their minds lest they be targeted as other immigrant students have,” Yale junior Claire Newman wrote.  “These fears, and the dampening effects they have on free expression, crucial research, and education will grow far, far worse if the University allows its policies to be dictated in any way by the Trump administration.” Although they did not attend the hearing, U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro and U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal both submitted testimony to the committee on Thursday, redoubling their support of students and professors protesting the potential settlement. “Giving into a bully is not how you make them go away. It is exactly what empowers them. It invites them back for more,” DeLauro wrote in her statement.  “Demonstrating that the governing body of Yale’s hometown will back them in their fight against USDOJ aggression—such as passage of this resolution—would send another powerful message to Yale’s leadership,” Blumenthal wrote. “Our opposition is based on our deep abiding respect and concern for Yale’s independence.” This story was first published Sept. 25, 2026 by New Haven Independent. ...read more read less