"A Settlement with Trump Means Abandoning University Autonomy"
Harvard Alumni Warn Against Dangerous Precedent for Higher Education
Members of Harvard University are holding a rally opposing the Trump administration. Photo by AP Yonhap News
More than 10,000 Harvard University alumni in the United States have launched collective action. They issued an open letter in protest after the university appeared poised to pay a large sum in response to pressure from the Donald Trump administration.
On August 14 (local time), Yonhap News reported this, citing The New York Times (NYT). According to the report, the Harvard alumni group "Crimson Courage" sent an open letter addressed to Harvard President Alan Garber and the university's Board of Trustees, stating, "We urge you: Do not surrender."
"A Settlement with Trump Means Abandoning University Autonomy"
They went on to say, "Any settlement with the Trump administration is unconstitutional and illegal," emphasizing that it "amounts to abandoning the university's autonomy." They further warned, "Such a settlement would have harsh consequences for the Harvard community and for all of higher education." Referring to cases where other universities have settled with the government, they stated, "This is a dangerous capitulation that risks eroding the foundation of American higher education," and insisted, "The precedents set by other universities should not guide the direction of Harvard or any other institution of higher learning."
The open letter has been signed by 14,000 people, including Harvard students, alumni, faculty, and members of the general public. "Crimson" is Harvard's official color, and "Crimson Courage" was established to defend academic freedom.
The second Trump administration has been exerting financial pressure on 60 universities, including prestigious Ivy League schools, citing reasons such as neglecting antisemitism and failing to protect Jewish students. The government has reduced or frozen federal funding to these universities, imposed hefty fines, and offered to restore funding if the fines are paid.
A house near Harvard University is displaying a sign supporting Harvard. Photo by Reuters and Yonhap News Agency
Harvard Weighs 'Large Payment to Settle with Government'
Harvard has also faced pressure, such as frozen research funding, but it was the only university to legally challenge the Trump administration. However, it has recently been reported that Harvard is now considering paying $500 million to the government to restore several billion dollars in research funding. On August 12, The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), citing sources, reported that Harvard is in final negotiations with the Trump administration over a settlement that would provide a total of $500 million over several years to "staff and workforce programs."
Some universities have already paid large sums or accepted government proposals and are moving toward reconciliation with the Trump administration. According to the NYT, Columbia University agreed to pay $200 million to the government to restore $400 million in research funding. Brown University also agreed to pay $50 million to state workforce development programs, and the University of Pennsylvania agreed to partially restrict the participation of transgender athletes in sports competitions as demanded by the government.
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