From Harvard Magazine:
Harvard never wanted or expected this. University leaders had spent the spring in conversation with the Trump administration, which threatened to withdraw federal funding if charges of antisemitism on campus were not addressed. But when a letter arrived on April 11 with a list of sweeping demands—effectively giving the government control of Harvard’s hiring, admissions, and even the makeup of academic departments—negotiations came to a halt. In an interview with NBC later that month, President Alan M. Garber explained the decision: “The stakes are so high that we have no choice” but to fight.
So launched the extraordinary battle that is playing out in federal court, in op-ed pages, on social media, and sometimes in the streets. The government has targeted Harvard’s research funding, endowment, and ability to enroll international students. Harvard has filed two federal lawsuits, seeking to stop the government’s actions on the grounds of free speech violations and administrative overreach. And the University’s stand against the Trump administration has made Harvard a symbol in the public eye—a stand-in for higher education, globalization, and the government’s traditional role in advancing science and innovation.
More here.
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