[Source/Observer Network Deng Jun Editor/Zhao Qiankun]

According to the latest report of "The Economist", the "MAGA (Make America Great Again, translated into Chinese as 'Let America Be Great Again') Rebuilding Ivy League" plan may have terrifying consequences for American higher education, innovation, economic growth, and other areas.

The report said that the Trump administration is retaliating against American universities through federal grants: due to criticism of the government, Princeton University and Cornell University faced over $1 billion in grant freezes or cancellations; at the same time, some foreign students were arrested for publicly condemning Israel's military operations in Gaza.

According to statistics from CNN, the Trump administration has canceled visas for at least 529 students, faculty members, and researchers at 88 universities, part of a large-scale deportation action.

On April 14, local time, Harvard University risked losing $9 billion in federal contracts and grants by refusing the "rectification" demands from the Trump administration. The New York Times reported that this made Harvard the first university to directly refuse the demands of the Trump administration.

The report said that other universities are also resisting the Trump administration's intervention in higher education.

American universities have traditionally relied on excellent students and scholars from around the world to maintain their competitiveness. If international reputation is damaged and talent flows out, does this mean self-harm in the long term?

The Trump administration is waging "war" on American universities.

The Ivy League is an alliance of seven universities and one college in the United States. These eight universities represent the highest level of education in America, committed to academic research and nurturing many scientists, political leaders, and business tycoons.

According to The Economist, the Trump administration wants to overturn the "old order," and merely raising tariffs is not enough—it must seize and reshape the core institutions of culture. In America, this means taking control of the Ivy League universities, as these universities play a crucial role in shaping the elite class.

Since the spring of 2024, large-scale protests supporting Palestine and opposing Israel have erupted on many American campuses, with Columbia University becoming a protest hub. In response, the Trump administration has taken a series of tough measures against universities, including freezing funds and repatriating international students.

Columbia University campus Visual China

According to data published on Columbia University's official website for the 2024-2025 academic year, Columbia University has a total of 23,914 international students from 15 countries and regions, along with 3,181 visiting scholars.

Lee Bollinger, former president of Columbia University, said he had heard that "many talents no longer come to study in the U.S. due to fear," and application numbers for international students at many schools have significantly decreased. This trend will directly impact the university's financial revenue and the diversity of its academic environment. He warned that this constitutes the "most serious infringement" on academic freedom and university autonomy.

A project leader at an American institution pointed out in a strongly worded statement that the federal government is attempting to expel individuals with deep roots in American society under the guise of "national security," revoking their green cards simply because their political stance differs from that of the authorities. This behavior openly tramples on the First Amendment of the Constitution.

To submit or resist? American universities face a dilemma.

The high-pressure measures imposed by the Trump administration on universities have triggered multi-layered impacts and responses. For American universities, they not only face immense political pressure but also significant financial pressure.

According to a report by The New York Times on April 9, the Trump administration singled out seven American universities, including Harvard University, announcing that their funding may be reduced. Dozens of other universities were placed under review.

Among them, Northwestern University may lose $790 million, Brown University could lose $510 million, Cornell University faces at least a $1 billion cut, Harvard University could lose $9 billion, Princeton University has $210 million cut, Columbia University lost $400 million in grants and contracts, and the University of Pennsylvania had $175 million suspended.

The New York Times pointed out that the total amount of funds withdrawn or threatened to be withdrawn by the Trump administration currently exceeds $12 billion, with most of these funds related to Harvard University and its affiliates.

In addition, among the dozens of universities under review, much of the focus is on Columbia University, Harvard University, Northwestern University, George Washington University, Johns Hopkins University, New York University, UC Berkeley, UCLA, the University of Minnesota, and the University of Southern California, which are the universities the Trump administration particularly focuses on.

In the face of pressure from the Trump administration, Columbia University agreed to make concessions to Trump, thus negotiating the $400 million grant with the Trump administration. This has caused panic among some educators in the United States.

Harvard University and the Charles River Visual China

In contrast to Columbia University's "submission," Harvard University refused the Trump administration's "rectification" requirements.

Alan Garber, president of Harvard University, wrote in a statement on April 14 that the government's instructions exceeded the power of the federal government. It infringed on Harvard University's rights granted by the First Amendment of the Constitution and went beyond the statutory authority given to the government under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. No government—regardless of which party is in power—should dictate what courses private universities can teach, what students and faculty they can admit and hire, and what fields of exploration and research they can engage in.

Senate Minority Leader Charles Ellis Schumer (Charles Ellis Schumer) believed that Harvard University's resistance was "correct." Schumer responded to the Associated Press, stating, "The Trump administration has made unprecedented demands on universities with the aim of undermining or even destroying these vital institutions."

To counteract the Trump administration's measures, some American universities began implementing "self-rescue plans."

For example, Harvard University froze hiring and implemented fiscal austerity measures such as issuing taxable bonds and evaluating the resources needed to advance academic and research priorities. Sally Kornbluth, president of MIT, ordered a freeze on hiring for certain positions, and Princeton University is considering selling approximately $320 million in taxable bonds later this month. Harvard University also announced its intention to issue $750 million in taxable bonds on the 7th.

The report noted that Harvard University's endowment fund is comparable in size to the sovereign wealth fund of Oman, a country rich in oil resources. This wealth should have "bought some courage." However, other universities are not so fortunate—they lack equivalent financial resources while also relying heavily on government research funds. If even the Ivy League schools struggle to withstand the "heavy blows" of political pressure, how can public universities protect themselves?

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Original source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7493419175277249076/

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