Y’all, good grief. tRump is going out of his way to nuke Harvard since they didn’t bow down to his demands, and he gets more excessive (and so do his sycophant division heads – bugger off Kristi Gnome) every few days. This is beyond ridiculous! So let’s take a look at everything the man WHO PAINTS HIS FACE ORANGE is doing. It started with the usual thing he has forced on a number of schools, and Harvard not only didn’t bow down, but pushed back. From CNN:
Harvard is among dozens of US universities facing harsh demands from the Trump administration, but it has emerged as the fiercest defender of its academic independence.
Harvard and Trump officials have been locked in conflict for months as the administration demands the university make changes to campus programming, policies, hiring and admissions to root out on-campus antisemitism and eliminate what it calls “racist ‘diversity, equity and inclusion’ practices.”
Well, remember what happened to other schools who *did* bow down? In a way, that was a bigger mistake. And also remember that *other* schools are now pushing back. This was only the start. Remember, ETTD.
Harvard is already fighting the White House in court over its freeze in recent weeks of $2.65 billion in federal grants and contracts. In that lawsuit, which coincidentally is also being heard by Burroughs, the university chose not to request an immediate court order blocking the decision, meaning the freeze is likely to stay in place at least until late July, when both sides will present their arguments.
Seems to me that this was not exactly a good choice, given how long the freeze is in place. The second case under Burroughs will be coming up next. Those grants and contracts help Harvard do really *good* things. For example, Harvard is affiliated with the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, which is consistently ranked among the top cancer centers nationally and globally. That’s just one, and we all know there are more.
A federal judge has temporarily halted the Trump administration’s ban on Harvard University’s ability to enroll international students.
US District Court Judge Allison Burroughs ruled hours after the nation’s oldest and wealthiest college filed suit Friday. Harvard argued revocation of its certification in the Student and Exchange Visitor Program was “clear retaliation” for its refusal of the government’s ideologically rooted policy demands. (Burroughs is the same judge considering a separate lawsuit from Harvard challenging the administration’s freeze of $2.65 billion in federal funding.)
Harvard’s latest complaint argues the decision Thursday to drop the school from the Department of Homeland Security’s SEVP system violates the law.
The administration is just trying to terrorize the university and its students. Oh, and may I mention trying to revoke its tax-exempt status? This is just “outta” hand. All because El Presidente Imbécil can’t stand being told not just no but H*LL NO. What a tiny (or should it be huge or monstrous?) ego to be wounded by it.
The Trump administration’s revocation of Harvard’s ability to enroll international students came as sharp punishment to the elite institution for refusing to bow to White House policy demands. Rooted in political ideology, the requirements – such as handing over student disciplinary records and killing equity initiatives – also have been placed on other US colleges.
The university will fight for its international students, its president, Alan Garber, promised the Harvard community.
“You are our classmates and friends, our colleagues and mentors, our partners in the work of this great institution,” he said Friday in a statement. “Thanks to you, we know more and understand more, and our country and our world are more enlightened and more resilient. We will support you as we do our utmost to ensure that Harvard remains open to the world.”
Some of Harvard’s students and staff were stunned by the announcement, which has left thousands of international students in limbo as they mourn their connection to a university that many of them fought tooth and nail to attend.
See what I mean? Agent Orange might as well be trying to shut the whole university down piecemeal. It’s so damn frustrating. Let’s close with this:
Jared, an 18-year-old in New Zealand, told CNN it was a “heart drop” moment when he learned he may not be able to start his undergraduate degree at the Ivy League school this fall.
“To me, it’s one of, if not the best school in the world,” Jared said, contrasting the news with the “really special moment” for him and his family when he learned in March he’d been accepted to Harvard to study Sociology.
Jared was in the process of applying for his student visa and preparing to move the 9,000 miles to Boston when he learned of the Trump administration’s announcement. Now he’s in limbo and looking at other resources the university may offer, such as online learning.
Rising junior Karl Molden, from Austria, is traveling abroad and says he’s terrified he won’t be allowed to return to campus. International students have been nervously messaging each other, he said. “Many of us have worked our entire lives to get to a university like Harvard, and now we need to wait around and see if we might have to transfer out and face difficulties with visas.”
I wish there was more I (we!) could do about this. At least I can rage (!!!!) and write about it. More power to you, Harvard! Keep it up! Thanks for sticking with me!
*****And now, please read ******
Zoomers, we are always in need of donations. It’s been an especially rough month, and my own health has not been great these past few weeks, which just adds to the frustration. Anything you can spare will be immensely appreciated. And thank you to all who have donated generously already. Ursula
