Harvard files lawsuit against Trump administration

Refusing to revisit its pluralistic and pedagogical principles, Harvard University is under threat of a subsidy freeze by the Trump administration. The renowned institution has decided to take the matter to court.

Under the pretext of anti-Semitism following pro-Gaza demonstrations on campuses, several American universities have been urged to fall into line by the Donald Trump administration. This includes the potential end of diversity programs and changes to the curriculum. The prestigious university rejected this interference, determined to maintain its independence and the freedom to preserve its status of excellence. Unlike Columbia University, Harvard has refused all the federal administration's demands. In response, the government froze $2.2 billion in subsidies. As Harvard continued to resist, the occupant of the Oval Office threatened to remove tax exemptions. Despite the sword of Damocles, the Massachusetts university remains undaunted.

Resistance and Lawsuit

In an impressive show of solidarity, numerous students and professors from the venerable institution and academic world have rallied to support Harvard's decision. The university has decided to take the matter to court and has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration. Before a federal court in Massachusetts, a legal document filed by the university states: "This case concerns the government's efforts to use the freeze of federal subsidies as a means of taking control of academic decisions at Harvard. [...] The government's actions encroach not only on the First Amendment but also on federal laws and regulations." The argument aims to demonstrate the arbitrary nature of the government's threats in a bid to "take control of academic decisions".

(MH with Olivier Duquesne – Source: Le Soir with Belga – Picture: © Unsplash)