A week ago, Harvard stood alone in its fight against T**** and his goal of destroying educational freedom.
“No government – regardless of which party is in power – should dictate what private universities can teach, whom they can admit and hire, and which areas of study and inquiry they can pursue,” wrote Harvard President Alan M. Garber in a letter released to the public.
Garber met the vindictive energy of the T**** administration with the full weight of Harvard, its history, reputation and $35 billion endowment.
Harvard stood strong in its rightful defiance, unlike fellow Ivy League institution Columbia University, which caved almost immediately to T**** withholding $400 million in funding to the school and demands for more control over the university’s course offerings and operations, including the installation of a federal overseer.
“The University will not surrender its independence or relinquish its constitutional rights,” said Garber.
It immediately enraged the wanna-be dictator, who, in response, froze funding designated for research at Harvard.
A few day later, Stanford and members of the Yale community joined forces with Harvard and spoke out against the attacks on Higher Ed by T****.
“Harvard’s objections to the letter it received are rooted in the American tradition of liberty, a tradition essential to our country’s universities, and worth defending,” wrote Stanford President Johnathan Levin and Provost Jenny Martinez.
Yale, which was threatened with $777 million in funding freezes, echoed these sentiments and the need to fight for educational independence.
Many have applauded Harvard for bravely standing up to this administration while the latter continued to target the university, threatening to rescind its tax-exempt status through the IRS and its revoke its ability to enroll foreign students.
But Harvard isn’t one to play with.
“Harvard will not surrender its independence or relinquish its constitutional rights. It remains unclear to us exactly what, among the government’s recent words and deeds, were mistakes or what the government actually meant to do and say,” wrote Harvard in a statement. “But even if the letter was a mistake, the actions the government took this week have real-life consequences on students, patients, employees, and the standing of American higher education in the world.”
The letter in question refers to the White House’s demand for changes at Harvard under the guise of addressing a “rise in Anti-Semitism,” which is camouflage for the real reason- to take control of colleges and universities and dictate what can and can’t be taught and to eliminate free thinking and overall intellect, which is one of the goals of fascism.
So Harvard took the next step and sued the T**** administration this past Monday, claiming that its $2.2 billion funding freeze violates the Constitution.
“Under whatever name, the Government has ceased the flow of funds to Harvard as part of its pressure campaign to force Harvard to submit to the Government’s control over its academic programs. That, in itself, violates Harvard’s constitutional rights,” wrote Harvard in the lawsuit.
“The Government has not – and cannot – identify any rational connection between antisemitism concerns and the medical, scientific, technological, and other research it has frozen that aims to save American lives, foster American success, preserve American security, and maintain America’s position as a global leader in innovation.”
Now, two weeks after this entire drama exploded in the public atmosphere, more than 200 colleges and universities have finally joined the fight.
On Tuesday, university and college presidents issued a joint letter denouncing what T**** and his administration is doing to Harvard and High Ed in general.
“As leaders of America’s colleges, universities, and scholarly societies, we speak with one voice against the unprecedented government overreach and political interference now endangering American higher education. We are open to constructive reform and do not oppose legitimate government oversight. However, we must oppose undue government intrusion in the lives of those who learn, live, and work on our campuses. We will always seek effective and fair financial practices, but we must reject the coercive use of public research funding,” wrote the presidents.
The list of presidents continues to grow as institutions (finally) recognize the threat they’re facing and unite to push back.
And this is a threat that affects students, both domestic and foreign, student-athletes, athletic departments, faculty, research, administration and the entire purpose of education.
“Our colleges and universities share a commitment to serve as centers of open inquiry where, in their pursuit of truth, faculty, students, and staff are free to exchange ideas and opinions across a full range of viewpoints without fear of retribution, censorship, or deportation.”
This list, and the fight from higher ed, must continue to grow for we cannot have one sole force (especially a vastly unqualified one) dictate who can learn or how they will learn. Education is available in many forms and to everyone, and that must not be threatened.
Hopefully more presidents join the fight and preserve education, its purpose, administration and freedom.
