President of the United States, Donald TrumpThis Wednesday increased its attacks on HarvardSaying that the university is a “joke” and that it is no longer worth receiving federal resources. This statement comes one day after the college faces the government by rejecting the White House demands to make radical changes in governance, acceptance and employment practices. Rejection came after the government announced a review of about 9 billion dollars ($ 50 billion) in federal contracts and subsidies for the institution and its affiliated companies.
“Harvard can no longer be considered a decent place to learn and should not be on any list of the best universities in the world,” Trump wrote on the social truth platform. “Harvard is a joke, knows hatred and stupidity, and you should not receive federal financing.”
After depriving the university of the government’s demands, Trump announced, in response, to freeze $ 2.2 billion (about 13 billion dollars) of federal funds and threatened to remove its tax advantages. The requirements for maintaining financing included the dismantling of diversity, shares and integration programs, the prohibition of sexually transformed athletes who compete in female teams, restructuring university governance, as well as reviews and changes in departments that “feed the anti -Semitic harassment” and “primarily violations”.
These measures are part of a broader attack against American universities accused by Trump to enhance anti -Semitism and “ideological indoctrination”. Pressure increased after students’ protests in various universities in the country against the Israeli war in Gaza.
In a letter sent to students and teachers on Monday, the university’s temporary president, Alan Garper, said that the Foundation “will not give up its independence or its guaranteed rights constitutionally.”
The first open resistance
Rejection is the first open resistance to the elite university of the government’s efforts, which intensified pressure on higher education institutions in the United States. The University of Colombia, the Center for Protests in favor of the Palestinians last year, was the first goal, with $ 400 million (about 2 billion dollars) funded funded last month, including scholarships. Colombia, which is still seeking to reverse the decision, in an “active dialogue” with the government.
Unlike Colombia, Harvard University, according to the Washington Post, faced pressure from the Cambridge community to resist demands, with almost daily marches. In an opening article recently, Harvard University students newspaper said: “Harvard University must work with other universities to respond, which leads to the fight against Trump’s government unimaginable attacks on higher education.”
Last Friday, the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) and the group of the group at Harvard University filed a lawsuit, seeking to prevent the Trump government from “Harvard University asking to restrict freedom of expression and restructure its main operations” or face financing discounts.
Trump’s government has announced the formation of a multidisciplinary workplace that will review more than $ 255 million of federal contracts with Harvard and another $ 8.7 billion of multi -year subsidies to ensure that the school is compatible with federal regulations. This initiative is part of the efforts of the Joint Action Action Squad, which was created last year after protests against the war between Israel and Hamas, which are achieved in allegations of discrimination and harassment of Jews in universities throughout the country.
