[By Guancha Observer Network, Chen Sijia] US President Trump is exerting pressure on major universities across the country by cutting federal financial support, demanding that many universities crack down on "anti-Semitism and ideological indoctrination." This move has alarmed American universities; some educational figures have even begun to hype up the "China threat," trying to persuade Trump by using the argument of "US-China competition."

According to a report by The New York Times on April 9, the Trump administration has singled out seven US universities including Harvard University, announcing that their funding may be cut, while dozens of other universities are under review. The board of the Association of American Universities then issued a statement claiming that the US "cannot afford to stop in its competition with China," urging the Trump administration not to cut university funding.

After the outbreak of the new round of Israeli-Palestinian conflict in October 2023, tens of universities held protests in support of Palestine, opposing Israel's military actions in the Gaza Strip. The Trump administration accused these schools of "tolerating anti-Semitism," calling them "fortresses of anti-Semitism and ideological indoctrination."

As of now, the Trump administration has singled out seven universities. Northwestern University might lose $790 million, Brown University could lose $510 million, Cornell University faces at least $1 billion in cuts, Harvard University may lose $9 billion, Princeton University has $21 million cut, Columbia University has $400 million in grants and contracts canceled, and the University of Pennsylvania has $175 million in funds suspended.

The New York Times pointed out that the total amount of funds withdrawn or threatened to be withdrawn by the Trump administration has already exceeded $12 billion, with most of the funds related to Harvard University and its affiliates.

Photo illustration: Harvard University, Visual China

Dozens of other US universities are under review, with the main work being carried out by the Office for Civil Rights of the US Department of Education. However, most of the focus is on the ten universities highlighted by the Trump administration, namely Columbia University, Harvard University, Northwestern University, George Washington University, Johns Hopkins University, New York University, UC Berkeley, UCLA, University of Minnesota, and USC.

Some universities are confused, insisting they have taken measures to "combat anti-Semitism." For instance, Northwestern University recently released a list of "measures against anti-Semitism," which is very similar to the list given to Columbia University by the Trump administration. However, Northwestern University is still targeted by the Trump administration.

The New York Times believes that differences in stance on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict are just a small part of the conflict between the Trump administration and American universities. For decades, American conservatives and educational elites have been at odds, with conservatives extremely dissatisfied with affirmative action in college admissions, high tuition fees, liberal professors' views, and the proliferation of "diversity, equity, and inclusion" (DEI) initiatives on campus.

To persuade the Trump administration not to cut funding, the American education sector began emphasizing the importance of university education and research to the development of the United States, even hyping up the so-called "China threat."

The board of the Association of American Universities recently issued a statement saying, "In the competition with competitors such as China, the US cannot afford to stop for even a second. Now more than ever, it is necessary to avoid harming research endeavors, which have helped us achieve many significant victories."

Columbia University agreed to make concessions to Trump, negotiating the $400 million grant with the Trump administration. The university announced last month that it will accept Trump's demands, including placing Middle Eastern, South Asian, and African studies departments under a new regulatory framework, strengthening campus security forces, and enhancing discipline and protest policies.

This has caused panic among some figures in the American education sector. Christopher Eisgruber, president of Princeton University, said, "Academic freedom is a fundamental principle of universities, and this must be protected. Therefore, I am concerned about the concessions made by universities in this regard. Once you make concessions, it becomes difficult to avoid making further ones."

The Trump administration's actions have forced some American universities to adopt "emergency plans." Princeton University announced on April 1 that it is considering selling approximately $320 million in taxable bonds later this month. Harvard University also expressed its intention to issue $750 million in taxable bonds on the 7th. The university also announced that it will formulate an emergency plan to assess the resources required to advance academic and research priorities.

This article is an exclusive contribution from Guancha Observer Network and cannot be reprinted without permission.

Original source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7491490609128948287/

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