[The Editors' Verdict] Is This the End of American Innovation?... The Disappearance of "Harvard's Bookworms"

Attacking Harvard Under the Pretext of Antisemitism
A "Culture War" Threatening University Autonomy
The Core Foundation of American Innovation at Risk

When I was young, I used to enjoy watching the American drama "The Harvard Bookworms." The show depicted elite freshmen who had entered Harvard Law School, one of the most prestigious universities in the United States, as they studied intensely, competed fiercely, and experienced frustration and conflict. At the time, this drama fueled admiration for top American universities in Korean society and sparked a boom in studying abroad.

Even overseas, Harvard University is regarded as the top representative of American elite institutions, but it is currently the main target of intense scrutiny by the U.S. government. This is because the Donald Trump administration demanded changes to campus policies at American universities, citing the need to eradicate antisemitism on campus, and Harvard University refused to comply. In response, the Trump administration canceled $3 billion (approximately 4.1 trillion won) in federal grants that were to be provided to Harvard University. In addition, the administration took the drastic measure of revoking the enrollment eligibility of international students. Harvard University has since filed a lawsuit against the government.

There are about 6,800 international students currently enrolled at Harvard University, accounting for approximately 27% of the total student body. As of 2022, there were 317 Korean students enrolled, making Korea the fourth largest group after China, Canada, and India. Furthermore, international students make up 5.9% of the total 19 million students enrolled in all U.S. higher education institutions.

The conflict between President Donald Trump and Harvard University goes beyond a simple debate over education policy and has taken on the characteristics of a "culture war" over the fundamental values of American society. President Trump has labeled Harvard University and other "Ivy League" schools as symbols of progressive elitism, using them as tools to provoke resentment among conservative voters. He has even described Harvard University as a hotbed of "pro-China forces." It is interpreted that President Trump, whose approval ratings have recently declined due to backlash over tariffs, is intensifying his attacks on progressive elites to rally his base.

The problem is that President Trump's so-called "war on universities" threatens the entire American innovation system. Not only Harvard University, but also Columbia University, the University of Pennsylvania, Princeton University, and Brown University have received notices of research funding cuts. Even American universities, once renowned as bastions of freedom and scholarship, are now faltering amid the wave of "America First" policies.

This is why Jerome Powell, Chair of the Federal Reserve, criticized the Trump administration's policies in his commencement speech at his alma mater, Princeton University, immediately after the decision to halt university grants. He said, "Our great universities are the envy of the world and an important national asset." He went on to emphasize, "Fifty years from now, you will want to look in the mirror and know that you acted according to what you believed was right in every aspect of your life. Do not take anything for granted, protect and strengthen democracy, and do your best to take one step closer to the ideals held by the founders of America."

Matt Ridley, a renowned British science writer and critic of civilization, wrote in his book "How Innovation Works" that "freedom is the true soil of innovation." However, the United States is now gradually turning into a suffocatingly regulated society. As Chair Powell warned, fifty years from now, it may be difficult to find people like Bill Gates, who attended Harvard University and went on to found Microsoft with $1,500 in capital to become the richest person in the world, or Steve Jobs, who started in his garage during his college years and became an icon of innovation with Apple.