US President Donald Trump on Thursday heightened his administration’s ongoing conflict with Harvard University, calling the Ivy League organization” a humiliation,” as federal agencies take extraordinary measures against its financing, tax status, and ability to house foreign students.
Trump criticized the school harshly outside the White House, blaming what he described as the institution’s failure to uphold American beliefs. Trump called Harvard” a disgrace,” and he said,” I think Harvard’s a disgrace.”
In a statement to the White House press, Trump continued to discuss the information that the Internal Revenue Service intended to outlaw Harvard from the tax exemption system. He indicated that various universities were being looked into, and that a final decision had not been reached. I’m certainly a part of it, he says. It is being handled by attorneys. I read about it exactly like you did,” he said of the studies. Speak about the provision he mentioned,” Tax-exempt position, I mean, it’s a pleasure. It’s really a pleasure, and it’s been taken advantage of by many more people than Harvard.”
After mentioning other universities, he continued,” When you look at a university, whether it’s Columbia, Harvard, or Princeton, I don’t know what’s going on, but when you look at how badly they’ve behaved and in other ways as well. But we’ll, we’ll been taking it seriously.
Following the Department of Homeland Security’s formal order to provide detailed information on international students suspected of engaging in “illegal and violent activities,” the criticism was brought on. In a separate action, the administration canceled two$ 2.7 million grants and frozen more than$ 2 billion in additional funding for research and academic programs.
Read the full story: The Donald Trump administration requests that Harvard be exempt from taxation because of school hatred.
Harvard, the most prestigious and oldest university in the country, became a major target after refusing to adhere to governmental guidelines to discipline student activists, review admissions procedures, and monitor foreign students for philosophical alignment with” National values.”
President Alan Garber of Harvard announced on Monday that the college may not comply with politically motivated demands in an empty challenge to the government, citing legal protections. In a statement, the college said,” Harvard does not give up its independence or abandon its constitutional privileges.”
Trump has previously questioned Harvard’s ability to remain a volunteer and whether its actions might offend laws governing charitable institutions in a post-True Social post. Officials confirmed that a review of Harvard’s duty standing was being conducted prior to his remarks, even though federal law prohibits the president from initiating an IRS investigation immediately.
According to a Reuters citation, former president of Harvard and former secretary of state Larry Summers criticized the initiative and called it” an abuse of professional power.”
The government’s aggressive attitude has sparked concern in academic circles, particularly among foreign students. Many individuals at Harvard expressed concern that their lawful status is in trouble, especially where 27 % of students from overseas.
Leo Gerdén, a top studying economics and authorities in Sweden, said,” Harvard without its global area is just no Harvard.” We feel like goals, and it’s terrifying.
The conflict appears to be far from over as institutions like Columbia University follow Harvard’s result in defying government pressure continue and tensions are escalating. ” This is not just about Harvard,” said Archon Fung, a professor of politics. In the face of social persuasion, “it’s about whether educational institutions can maintain their independence.”
