Harvard Defies Trump, Stands Firm Against Attacks on Higher Education
The Department of Education issued an ultimatum to Harvard University, demanding viewpoint diversity audits and threatening to control the university’s admissions and hiring practices. This action, deemed extortionate by some, prompted Harvard to defiantly refuse to comply, citing threats to its academic freedom and institutional values. Simultaneously, Boston immigration lawyers received threatening deportation notices from the Department of Homeland Security, seemingly intended to intimidate both them and their clients. These incidents, occurring near the 250th anniversary of the battles of Lexington and Concord, evoke the spirit of defiance against governmental overreach. The White House further escalated the situation by threatening to revoke Harvard’s tax-exempt status.