Reference News Network reported on April 17 that AFP reported on April 15 that U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to cancel the huge tax benefits for Harvard University and even demanded that the university "apologize" on April 15. This marked a new phase in the struggle between Trump and American universities after this top American university refused to yield to his demands.

Before this latest crackdown on academia and research, the Trump administration had decided to freeze a multi-year federal grant worth $2.2 billion to this Ivy League school in the northeastern United States.

Trump declared on his social platform "Truth Social" on April 15: "If Harvard University continues to defend its 'insane behavior'煽动/ supported by terrorism in terms of political ideology, perhaps its tax-exempt status should be canceled and it should be taxed as a political entity."

This private university near Boston has an endowment fund of over $50 billion and has long enjoyed dual tax exemption from the federal government and the state of Massachusetts.

On April 14, Harvard publicly refused the Trump administration's demands, and its tough stance caused shock. On April 15, teachers and students on the campus of this oldest American university cheered at the firm rejection by the university administration.

Gregory Johnson, who teaches at the Medical School, told reporters: "It is commendable to face such demands, but this is the bare minimum responsibility of Harvard." Student Darius Hanson said: "This is great, more universities across the country should follow suit."

Like other American universities, Harvard has also seen student movements opposing Israel's war in Gaza, which is often condemned by American conservatives as anti-Semitism. Since Trump regained power, Harvard University has become a target of the White House.

Trump accused the university and others of allowing anti-Semitism to grow on campus and demanded that these universities implement a series of measures including "reviewing the views of teachers and students," otherwise federal funding would be cut off.

White House Press Secretary Caroline Leibovitz said on April 15 that Trump "wants to see Harvard University apologize. Harvard University must apologize for the blatant anti-Semitic acts occurring on campus."

Harvard University President Alan Garber reiterated in an open letter to faculty and students on April 14 that the university has been taking action to combat anti-Semitism for over a year, but guaranteed that Harvard will not abandon its independence or constitutional rights, including freedom of speech guaranteed by the First Amendment. He also stated: "No government, regardless of which party is in power, should issue orders to private universities regarding teaching content, recruitment standards, or research directions."

This stance led to the immediate freezing of Harvard's $2.2 billion federal grant. The Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health confirmed to reporters that renowned researcher Sarah Fortune, funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), has been ordered to stop her tuberculosis research.

Harvard University's firm response was welcomed by Democratic figures including former President Barack Obama. He praised the move as setting an example and hoped that other "universities" would follow suit.

Harvard University's attitude contrasts sharply with Columbia University, which has agreed to undergo profound reforms, seen by some as yielding to the Trump administration. However, this New York-based university said on April 15 that it would refuse any agreement that would make it lose its independence.

The Trump administration's siege on universities also includes revoking hundreds of foreign students' visas, arresting pro-Palestinian student activists - although they are legally residing on U.S. soil, they now face the threat of deportation.

According to a report on the Financial Times website on April 15, there are signs that the academic community is beginning to counterattack. Stanford University President Jonathan Levin said: "Harvard University's opposition position rooted in America's tradition of freedom is crucial to American universities and worth defending."

He said: "Constructive change cannot be achieved by destroying the nation's scientific capabilities or allowing the government to take over private institutions."

University professors and teacher organizations have filed lawsuits against the government. Broader actions are being planned regarding the government's comprehensive freeze on grants related to diversity, equity, and inclusion topics for various universities.

Universities are also challenging the caps set by the National Institutes of Health and the Department of Energy on indirect costs. (Translated by Shumeng and Xiong Wenyuan)

Original source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7494106496070877736/

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