Donald Trump freezes $ 2.2 billion in subsidies at Harvard, who refused his requirements
This article was automatically translated from HIBAPRESS, the Arabic version:
Hibapress / Radio-Canada
The Trump administration announced on Monday the freezing of $ 2.2 billion in subsidies at Harvard University, one of the most prestigious in the world, after its refusal to comply with the requirements of the White House.
The disruption of learning that has struck campuses in recent years is unacceptable. The harassment of Jewish students is intolerable. (…) There Task Force Combat against anti -Semitism announces the freezing of $ 2.2 billion in subsidies over several yearsspecifies a press release from the American Department of Education.
Alan Garber, president of Harvard, said that he had informed the Trump administration, through his legal advisor, his refusal of the requests contained in the proposed agreement.
The University will not give up its independence or its constitutional rights. »» A quote fromAlan Garber, president of Harvard University
The government of Donald Trump has threatened many establishments in the United States to reduce its funding if changes were not made to their policies and their governance. He notably accuses the university environment of anti -Semitism in his management of the Propalestinian movement on campuses.
Harvard, like other American universities, has been the scene of a student mobilization against the war waged by Israel in Gaza, and has been targeted by the White House since the return to power of Donald Trump.
With this answer, Harvard becomes the first elite university to stand up to the American president.
Requests in contradiction with the first amendment
The Trump administration required in particular the abolition of Harvard’s diversity, equity and inclusion programs, the ban on masks during campuses, reforms in terms of hiring and admission based on merit as well as the reduction of power owned by teachers and administrators more engaged in activism than in erudition.
Mr. Garber said the majority of these requests represent A direct governmental attack on university intellectual conditions.
No government – whatever the ruling party – should dictate what private universities can teach, which they can admit and hire, and what areas of study and research they can continue. »» A quote fromAlan Garber, president of Harvard University
According to the university, the requirements of the Trump administration are in contradiction with the first amendment And encroach on university freedoms guaranteed for a long time by the Supreme Court. The first amendment of the American Constitution guarantees fundamental freedoms, in particular freedom of expression.
