Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley visited the Bill Bordy Theater Monday afternoon for a conversation with the Emerson community about the next four years of higher education under President Donald Trump.

The conversation, which was facilitated by the Student Government Association and professor Deion Hawkins, touched on a wide range of topics, including defending diversity, equity, and inclusion practices, constitutional democracy, and free expression.

The event began with half an hour of discussion between Hawkins and Pressley. Hawkins asked Pressley questions about the role of higher education in defending democracy and free speech. At one point, Hawkins told Pressley one of his favorite quotes of hers was “policy is my love language,” a commonly used phrase by the congresswoman.

“I don’t know how my husband feels about that,” she responded jokingly. “But it’s true, the reason I say [policy is] my love language is because we have seen the aftermath of legislating hurt and harm.”

The congresswoman was referring to recent Supreme Court decisions such as those that ended the right to abortion and affirmative action, saying the courts have enlisted far-right “co-conspirators in their extremism.”

Pressley encouraged colleges and universities to maintain diversity among the student body regardless. 

“There’s no constitutional ruling from the Supreme Court that is a denial of that,” she said.

The final fifteen minutes were reserved for student questions. As the event ran past its scheduled end time, Pressley fielded multiple student questions at a time before answering them.

In response to a question about housing costs for students from Angus Abercrombie, the incoming executive vice president of SGA, Pressley highlighted her staunch advocacy for zoning reform, rent control, and affordable housing development.

During the Q&A, a student inquired about Pressley’s thoughts on a Boylston Students for Justice in Palestine Instagram post revealing that two of the college’s residential assistants had been fired by the school and given a week to move out for alleged protesting at a pro-Palestine demonstration. Pressley said she would pursue “ongoing communication” with all administrations in her district regarding the question of suppression of free speech on college campuses.

Emerson College falls within the 7th Congressional district of Massachusetts which Ayanna Pressley represents. The administration adopted a new demonstration policy following the arrests of 118 protesters last April at Emerson’s Palestine solidarity encampment that restricts expression and protest.

“There will be an ongoing communication about that,” Pressley said in response to the student’s question, reaffirming her support for Palestinian “dignity and humanity” and explaining that she hadn’t been aware of the firings prior to the conversation. “I don’t want to feel like I have a welcome back and protections that students don’t … Thank you for speaking truth to power.”

In an interview with The Beacon, Pressley confirmed she would be continuing communication with all administrations in her district regarding the student’s question.

“I’m in ongoing communication with all the presidents of the colleges and universities in my district,” Pressley said. “Courage is contagious, so I hope Harvard saying we reject the demands of the Trump administration will embolden other universities to do the same.”

Harvard University released a statement, just hours before the event, rejecting the Trump administration’s demands to end DEI programming among other changes, citing the importance of private universities maintaining independence from government overreach. In response, the Trump administration froze over $2 billion in institutional grants.

College spokesperson Michelle Gaseau in a statement to The Beacon said the college would be happy to speak to Pressley if she reached out and that students are not disciplined for the content of their speech or beliefs. She said the college could not comment on specific “student employment information, job actions, or conduct decisions.”

“Housing is provided to RAs as part of their role; students who lose those positions can continue to live in on-campus housing (at a prorated cost) or move off campus,” Gaseau wrote in a statement, citing the RA union’s contract for the seven-day process following employment termination. “To clarify what was said at the event: The Congresswoman stated that she is in ongoing communications with all the presidents of institutions in her district.”

Pressley has previously called for an end to disciplinary action against student protesters following a visit to Harvard’s Palestine solidarity encampment last April. 

In a similar tune, Pressley referenced Rümeya Öztürk, a Tufts graduate student who was arrested by plain-clothes federal agents for deportation despite a legal residency status for an op-ed she co-wrote demanding Tufts divest from Israel.

“Whether you agree with what my constituent Rümeysa Öztürk wrote in her op-ed or not, you should still affirm her right to say it,” Pressley said to the more than 100 students, faculty, and staff in attendance. “Political prisoners are being disappeared from society for no criminal wrongdoing; it will be on a pro-Israel op-ed tomorrow. This is a constitutional right, it’s fundamental to our democracy.”

“I couldn’t have asked for [the event to go] better,” SGA Boston Intercollegiate Government Senator Henry Jones said to The Beacon. “I think she handled all of the questions beautifully. Our facilitator, Deion, asked her great questions and she had great responses.”

One student asked the congresswoman what students themselves could do to help defend higher education from the Trump administration.

“Dr. King said that organizing is our most powerful weapon, I want you all to keep that in mind,” she replied. “Some people are gonna carry signs. Some people are going to make the signs people are gonna carry.”

The conversation ended with a standing ovation for the congresswoman.

“We are demanding our colleges and universities recognize [that] values are a verb,” Pressley said. “Your silence will not save you. I understand the fear, it is credible, and it is real. But in solidarity, that is how we resist and reject authoritarianism and fascism.”