diff --git a/src/main/java/edu/harvard/iq/dataverse/datavariable/VariableMetadata.java b/src/main/java/edu/harvard/iq/dataverse/datavariable/VariableMetadata.java
index c18355c9979..08fcd14e0e6 100644
--- a/src/main/java/edu/harvard/iq/dataverse/datavariable/VariableMetadata.java
+++ b/src/main/java/edu/harvard/iq/dataverse/datavariable/VariableMetadata.java
@@ -71,6 +71,7 @@ public class VariableMetadata implements Serializable  {
     /**
      * universe: metadata variable field.
      */
+    @Column(columnDefinition="TEXT")
     private String universe;
 
     /**