BOSTON (AP) — Harvard University announced Monday it would not adhere to a list of requests from the Trump administration as part of its campaign against anti-Semitism.
In a letter to Harvard Friday, the administration called for a wide range of government and leadership reforms. This requires Harvard to place what is called “metre-based” admission and employment policies in the institute and conduct audits of research institutions, faculty and leadership in their views on diversity.
The request, which is updated from the previous letter, also calls for a ban on face masks that appear to be targeting Palestinian protesters. They are also pressured universities to suspend recognition or funding of “student groups or clubs that recognize or promote criminal activity, illegal violence, or illegal harassment.”
Harvard President Alan Gerber wrote in a letter to the Harvard community on Monday that the request violated the university’s right to amend and “exceeds statutory restrictions on government powers under Title VI.”
“No matter which party is in power, we should not direct what private universities can teach, who can be recognized and hired, or which areas of research and research can be pursued,” Gerber wrote, adding that the universities have made extensive reforms to address anti-Semitism.
“These objectives are not achieved by claims of power that does not move from the law to control teaching and learning at Harvard and to determine how we operate,” he wrote. “The job of addressing our shortcomings, fulfilling our commitment and embodying our values is to define and take on the community.”
Harvard’s demands are part of a broader push to use taxpayer dollars to pressure major academic institutions to adhere to the president. Donald Trump’s It affects political agenda and campus policies. The administration also claimed that the university allowed what it deemed anti-Semitic in campus protests last year against Israeli war in Gaza. The school denies that.
Harvard is one of several Ivy League schools targeting the administration’s pressure campaign and has suspended federal funding. University of Pennsylvania, brownand Princeton Enforce compliance with the agenda. Harvard’s request is similar I’ve urged a change Columbia University is under threat of billions of dollars in cuts.
A request from the Trump administration urged a group of graduates to write a letter to university leaders who would legally fight illegal demands that threaten academic freedom and university autonomy and refuse to comply.
“Harvard has stood up for integrity, values and freedom that serves as the foundation of higher education today,” said Anurima Balgava, one of the alumni behind the letter. “Harvard reminded the world that learning, innovation and transformational growth do not bring about bullying or authoritarian whims.”
It also sparked protests from members of the Harvard University community over the weekend from Cambridge residents and a lawsuit from the American Association of University Professors on Friday.
In their lawsuit, the plaintiffs notified both the university and Congress of the cuts, alleging that the Trump administration failed to comply with the measures requested under Title VI before they began cutting funds.
“These drastic but indeterminate demands are not remedies targeting the cause of decisions to violate federal law. Instead, they are trying to impose Harvard’s political views and policy preferences advanced by the Trump administration, and seeking to punish the university to punish unfavourable speeches,” the plaintiff wrote.
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