Harvard University said Monday it rejected policy changes requested by the Trump administration.
A letter from the Trump administration on Friday called for universities to reduce the power of students and faculty on university issues. Report foreign students who have immediately committed a violation to federal authorities. Additionally, each academic department will bring in external parties to ensure that the “viewpoints are diverse” among the other steps.
“No matter which party holds power, we should not direct what private universities can teach, who can be recognized and hired, or which areas of learning and research can be pursued,” Harvard President Alan Gerber said in a statement Monday.
A Harvard lawyer responded to the administration's letter, and said the university was “not ready to agree to a request beyond this administration or its legal authority.”
The Trump administration said it was investigating about $256 million in a Harvard federal contract in March, a further $8.7 billion in what it described as a “multi-year grant commitment.” The announcement suggests that Harvard University has not done enough to curb anti-Semitism on campus. It was vague about what universities could do to satisfy the Trump administration.
This is a developing story. Please check for updates.
