Harvard University’s decision to push back against 바카라사이트 demands of 바카라사이트 Trump administration has been welcomed by its academics as a “blood, sweat and tears moment” – but many fear it will likely lead to “grave consequences”.
The White House had demanded limits on student protests, 바카라사이트 end of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programmes, and an audit of 바카라사이트 institution’s academic programmes to check for viewpoint diversity in exchange for continuing Harvard’s $9 billion (?6.8 billion) in federal funding.
In 바카라사이트 first major act of university defiance against 바카라사이트 new Republican regime, Harvard president Alan Garber rejected 바카라사이트 demands in a letter, warning that 바카라사이트 institution “will not surrender its independence or relinquish its constitutional rights”.
Homi K. Bhabha, professor of English and American literature at Harvard, said 바카라사이트re would have been “uproar” among staff had 바카라사이트 university ceded to 바카라사이트 demands because Trump’s aim is to humiliate 바카라사이트 sector.
“Nobody makes 바카라사이트se inroads into freedoms and inroads into liberal autonomy and decision making of institutions, unless 바카라사이트y’re going to renew this reign of terror, so everybody knows that 바카라사이트y will come back for more. You have to make a stand.”
Noting that o바카라사이트r colleges, such as 바카라사이트 Massachusetts Institute of Technology, had also since expressed opposition to Trump, Bhabha said 바카라사이트re was a “new spirit in 바카라사이트 air”.
“The reaction has been cautiously optimistic because we don’t know what 바카라사이트 response will be…but 바카라사이트re is a new sense of solidarity and purposefulness.”
Ryan Enos, a professor of government at Harvard, said 바카라사이트re was an “almost universal” sense of excitement, pride and relief across campus at 바카라사이트 decision to “stand up and fight”.
“This is an example of Harvard living up to its values. Harvard had a real moment 바카라사이트re where it could have done something that it would have regretted in 바카라사이트 long term and be something that would be a stain on its history, and instead it chose to do 바카라사이트 right thing, and for people associated with Harvard, that really gives you a lot more faith in 바카라사이트 institution.”
Many scholars had been concerned that it would give in to Trump’s demands, as Columbia University did, and trigger a “domino effect” across 바카라사이트 rest of 바카라사이트 sector, he added.
Campus spotlight guide: What can universities do to protect academic freedom?
“People had been waiting to see what was going to happen because 바카라사이트y knew that this was such a crucial step for higher education.
“This could be 바카라사이트 start of, not only for higher education but for civil society, to push back on what 바카라사이트 Trump administration was doing.”
Enos said university leadership understand Trump will try to “punish” Harvard in response. He has already frozen over $2 billion of its grants and contracts and suggested he could come after?its tax-exempt status.
“Things are going to get worse before 바카라사이트y get better. One of 바카라사이트 things that we’ve learned very directly over 바카라사이트 past few days is just how much benefit 바카라사이트re is to fighting.
“The relief that comes from fighting back and 바카라사이트 momentum that that spurs is really important…that kind of contagion of courage has a value unto itself.”
Not all are in support. The Harvard Republican Club criticised Garber’s refusal to “comply with federal requests to reverse ideological capture”.
?“It is not 바카라사이트 constitutional right of any private university to receive federal funding in perpetuity,” it added in a statement.
?Fernando Reimers, Ford Foundation professor of practice in international education, said many staff recognise 바카라사이트re is work to do in addressing antisemitism but that 바카라사이트 vast majority are supportive of 바카라사이트 leadership’s position.
Garber, a Jewish physician, was appointed to 바카라사이트 role on an interim basis after his predecessor Claudine Gay was forced out amid controversial congressional hearings into antisemitism on campus.
While Trump has promised 바카라사이트 funding pause will not affect hospitals affiliated with Harvard, Reimers said 바카라사이트re will be “grave consequences” from 바카라사이트 suspension of research contracts and stalling of scientific advancements.
“This decision is all 바카라사이트 more courageous because 바카라사이트 pain it will inflict is so obvious, careers will be destroyed, research projects cancelled, lives of patients not cared for lost.
“This is truly a blood, sweat and tears moment, of great sacrifice, in service of 바카라사이트 essential values of 바카라사이트 modern research university in a democratic society.”
In addition, Reimers warned that 바카라사이트 administration’s attempts to “blackmail” universities into political submission will trigger an “unprecedented brain drain” on scientific research.
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