Authorities are investigating a suspected intentional explosion at a Harvard University medical building that occurred early Saturday morning. Responding to a fire alarm, police discovered evidence of an explosion on the building’s fourth floor and observed two individuals fleeing the scene. Surveillance footage captured images of two masked suspects. The FBI is assisting university police in the investigation, and authorities are requesting the public’s help in identifying the individuals.
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A federal judge in Boston has overturned the Trump administration’s decision to freeze nearly $2.2 billion in federal grants to Harvard University. The court order stated that the administration used antisemitism as a pretext for politically motivated actions, violating the Administrative Procedure Act, the First Amendment, and Title VI. The judge found that the administration failed to demonstrate a non-retaliatory basis for the grant terminations, which included demands related to university ideology and pedagogy. Despite the ruling, the White House and the Education Department expressed disagreement, maintaining Harvard’s ineligibility for future grants and criticizing the university’s handling of discrimination issues.
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The State Department has initiated an investigation into Harvard University’s compliance with the J-1 visa program, which allows international students to participate in exchange programs. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated the department would scrutinize Harvard’s sponsorship eligibility, ensuring compliance with regulations to uphold national security interests. This investigation is the latest action by the Trump administration, which has previously attempted to restrict foreign student enrollment at Harvard. Harvard has responded, asserting its commitment to complying with regulations while criticizing the investigation as retaliatory and a violation of its First Amendment rights.
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Harvard University is facing scrutiny from the Trump administration, leading to the dismantling of several diversity initiatives. Websites for the Harvard College Women’s Center, the Office for BGLTQ Student Life, and the Foundation for Intercultural and Race Relations have been replaced with a new Office of Culture and Community. This comes amid a months-long dispute with the White House, which has frozen federal funds and accused the university of failing to combat antisemitism. Despite these changes, Harvard maintains it is complying with accreditation standards and is committed to addressing antisemitism, while also battling the administration in federal court to regain frozen funds and protect international student enrollment.
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Harvard University’s 2022 report, “Harvard & the Legacy of Slavery,” detailed the institution’s extensive ties to the transatlantic slave trade and launched an initiative to identify living descendants of those enslaved by Harvard affiliates. Richard Cellini, tasked with leading this genealogical research, uncovered nearly 500 living descendants, prompting concerns from university administrators who allegedly sought to limit the number identified. This led to Cellini’s dismissal and the project’s redirection, raising questions about the university’s commitment to full transparency and reconciliation. Jordan Lloyd, a descendant discovered through this research, now grapples with the emotional complexities of her newly uncovered family history and the university’s response.
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Twenty-four universities, including five Ivy League institutions, filed an amicus brief supporting Harvard University in its lawsuit against the Trump administration over threatened funding cuts totaling $2.2 billion. Simultaneously, over 12,000 Harvard alumni submitted a separate brief denouncing the funding freeze as an unlawful attempt to control the university. Both briefs emphasized the interconnectedness of academic research and the detrimental impact of the cuts on American innovation and competitiveness. The universities argued that halting funding to one institution would jeopardize collaborative research projects crucial to national advancement. The alumni brief further condemned the administration’s actions as an infringement on academic freedom and a pretext for political control.
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The Trump administration is targeting Harvard University, threatening to revoke its ability to enroll international students and freeze billions in federal funding. These actions, framed as addressing issues like campus bias and foreign influence, are viewed by Harvard as unconstitutional attacks on academic freedom. Harvard has filed lawsuits and is resisting the administration’s demands, arguing the actions represent a broader attempt to intimidate and control institutions of higher learning. The conflict pits the long-standing university against a president seeking to reshape American higher education, with significant implications for academic freedom and the future of US universities.
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Michael Wolff suggests President Trump’s feud with Harvard stems from Trump’s own unsuccessful application to the university, contradicting claims that it’s due to Barron Trump’s rejection. The White House vehemently denies this, calling Wolff’s assertion “fake news.” While the president attended the University of Pennsylvania after Fordham, allegations persist that others assisted him with college entrance exams. This conflict escalated with the White House’s removal of federal funding from Harvard following disputes over diversity programs.
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The Trump administration is scrutinizing all Harvard University visa holders, not just students, following a DHS attempt to block international student enrollment. This investigation, encompassing business and tourist visas, aims to uncover security vulnerabilities and potential system abuses. The actions stem from a broader dispute over alleged antisemitism, pro-terrorist conduct, and Harvard’s resistance to administrative demands for governance reforms. This conflict involves billions in withheld federal funding and legal challenges from Harvard, citing violations of constitutional rights and academic freedom.
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Harvard University has relinquished ownership of 175-year-old daguerreotypes of enslaved individuals, Renty and Delia, to the International African American Museum in South Carolina. This settlement concludes a 15-year legal battle initiated by Tamara Lanier, a descendant, who argued for the repatriation of the images. The agreement marks a significant victory for descendants of enslaved people, representing an unprecedented legal precedent regarding the ownership and control of such historical artifacts. While the financial terms remain undisclosed, the photos will now be contextualized within a museum dedicated to African American history, allowing for a more complete and nuanced narrative of their ancestors’ lives.
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John Q. Hosedrinker