President Donald Trump has frozen more than 2000 million dollars in federal funds for Harvard because he will not implement changes in his hiring, admission and teaching practices that, according to his administration, are key to combating anti -Semitism on campus.
Obama, Harvard’s ex -alumnus, said the fact was “illegal and clumsy” and urged other institutions to follow Harvard’s example and not yield to Trump’s demands.
“Harvard has given an example to other institutions of higher education: he has rejected an illegal and clumsy attempt to suffocate academic freedom, while taking concrete measures to ensure that all Harvard students can benefit from an intellectual research environment, rigorous debate and mutual respect,” Obama wrote on social networks.
The former president, who graduated from Harvard’s Law Faculty in 1991, has rarely criticized or reprimanded government officials or policies on social networks since he left the White House almost a decade ago.
Obama is one of the few political figures that have ruled against the Trump administration attempts to transform the best universities in the country, through pressure to change teaching and hiring, and threats to cut research financing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cf0wtbwed3s
Hundreds of professors from Yale University published a letter expressing their support for Harvard’s decision to reject the demands of the Trump administration. “We are together at a crossroads,” says the letter.
“American universities face extraordinary attacks that threaten the fundamental principles of a democratic society, including the rights of freedom of expression, association and academic freedom.”
Many American universities receive some kind of federal financing, mainly aimed at scientific research in areas such as drug development.
Since Trump returned to the presidency, in January, institutions such as Stanford University have had to freeze hiring and cut budgets in the face of the decrease in federal funds.
Part of the financing has been suspended to press universities to take measures that, according to the Trump administration, will fight anti -Semitism.
Trump has accused them of not protecting Jewish students during last year’s protests against the war in Gaza and the support of the United States to Israel.
Stanford president Jonathan Levin, and the rector, Jenny Martínez, declared Tuesday in a statement by praising Harvard that “universities must address legitimate criticisms with humility and frankness.”
“But the way to achieve a constructive change is not destroying the country’s ability to scientific research or by taking the control of a private institution by the government,” they wrote.
“No government, regardless of the party in power, should dictate what private universities can teach, who can admit and hire, and what areas of study and research can develop,” said Harvard president Alan Garber, in a statement on Monday.
The Massachusetts Technological Institute (MIT) followed Harvard’s example on Monday and also rejected the demands of the Trump administration.
Despite criticism, Trump again attacked Harvard, threatening to revoke his tax exemption.
Universities and many beneficial organizations and religious groups are exempt from the payment of federal income taxes.
