In the past couple of years, the country has seen a spate of legislation targeting diversity, equity and inclusion efforts and perceived liberal bias at educational institutions. Initially focused largely on K-12 schools, the legislation has increasingly gone after colleges and universities. Last year, nearly half of the bills targeted higher education, according to the free speech and literary organization PEN America.

Higher education leaders have tried stay above the fray. But in news shared exclusively with USA TODAY, more than 100 former college presidents are banding together, pushing back against recent bills and policies in a campaign they hope will become a national movement.