Reference Message Network reported on May 28 that the Financial Times website published an article titled "Trump's Attack on Harvard Will Not Make America Great Again" on May 23. The author is Jason Furman, a professor at Harvard University and former chairman of the White House Council of Economic Advisers. The following are excerpts from the article: "I should stick to my expertise and focus the discussion on economic arguments and analysis because I have certain professional knowledge in this field or at least a comparative advantage. The Trump administration has actually tried to expel more than 6,500 Harvard students (about one-fourth of the total number of Harvard students), which is economically foolish. But the real reason why I feel shocked, sad, angry, and confused is personal." "When I was a sophomore at Harvard, I lived with two closest friends, one Canadian and the other South African. Through them and many other international friends, I encountered new ideas and perspectives and had a great time. Some stayed in the U.S., becoming doctors, scholars, journalists, and businessmen; others returned to their home countries but still maintained lasting ties with the U.S. and everything it offers." "After graduation, the roles were reversed, and I became a postgraduate student at the London School of Economics in the UK. Although I did not stay in the UK, I felt a strong sense of special friendship between us. Years later, when the British government invited me to lead a team to help revise digital competition policies, this goodwill returned, and I gladly accepted the opportunity." "When I returned to Harvard to pursue a Ph.D. in economics, most of my classmates held U.S. visas. Harvard considers itself an American university and mainly enrolls Americans—only about 15% of undergraduates are foreigners. However, in doctoral programs, Harvard recruits the brightest potential scholars from all over the world—given that nearly 96% of the global population lives outside the U.S., it’s no surprise that many doctoral students come from overseas." "Most of my international classmates stayed in the U.S. and now work in top research departments. Others went to first-rate universities, government agencies, and international organizations around the world. The global network I built while working at the White House during President Obama's administration benefited both myself and the U.S." "Now, I am back at Harvard as a professor. One of my students comes from a village in India, and her family had never taken a plane before she left home. Another student comes from an Italian town where no one has ever studied at an American university. There are also students who are refugees from war-torn countries. Last month, I had lunch with a group of undergraduate economics students and found that half of those present were international students. Many will return home after graduation to serve their countries, while others will stay here to contribute to the U.S." "Therefore, when I think about what the Trump administration has done, I think about these hundreds of friends, students, and colleagues. But even if we set aside these feelings, the economic cost is enormous." "The U.S. leads the world in higher education. Many foreign students not only spend money while studying in the U.S., but they also stay and work here, enriching our workforce, increasing productivity, and becoming innovators, founders, and intellectual leaders." "The strength of the U.S. has never relied solely on native talent (which accounts for only a small fraction of the global population), but rather on outstanding talents from all over the world. Breakthroughs we take for granted—whether in modern medicine or the internet—often trace back to global collaborations conducted by institutions like Harvard." "President Trump's actions have been temporarily halted by a judge. I hope the court can prove this action to be illegal. It is based on malicious accusations of anti-Semitism, arbitrary comprehensive reforms, and punitive measures; neither any Jewish faculty members nor students I know (including myself) support it." "I strongly support openness to trade and capital flows. However, openness to ideas and people is even more important. Harvard and other universities are precisely examples of such openness. No wonder Trump targets us. To benefit both the U.S. and the world, these extreme counterproductive policies must be stopped." (Translated by Ma Dan) Original image source: [Image URL] Original article: [Original Article Link] Disclaimer: This article represents the views of the author alone. Please express your opinions by clicking the "Like/Dislike" buttons below.