Foreign students May Remain Admitted by Harvard for the Time Being - Graduation Speech Criticizing Trump Draws Controversy - Foreign students given approval to attend Harvard; Trump's criticism met during graduation ceremony
Harvard Permits Continuation of Admitting International Students, Amidst Graduation Controversy
Last week, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security revoked Harvard University's authorization to enroll international students, accounting for approximately 27.2% of the institution's student body. Federal Judge Allison Burroughs, appointed by President Barack Obama, temporarily halted this ban following the intervention of Harvard's legal team. Subsequently, Burroughs upheld this decision after hearing arguments from both parties.
The interim protective measure lends temporary respite for international students, predominantly from Asia, as well as the 549 German students enrolled at Harvard. A definitive decision in this case remains pending.
As Harvard celebrated its graduates in Cambridge, west of Boston, Harvard President Alan Garber commended the numerous international graduates during the commencement ceremony. Garber, amidst the cheers of hundreds of graduates in red and black robes and black caps, asserted, "This is how it should be."
Invited as the commencement speaker was Dr. Abraham Verghese, a professor of medicine at Stanford University in California. Verghese, born in Ethiopia, praised America for enabling an immigrant like him to thrive. However, he expressed concern over potential mistreatment of international students, including the threat of wrongful detention and deportation.
Verghese's remarks alluded to historical circumstances such as the 1974 military coup in Ethiopia, which led to the closure of his university and the suppression of intellectual dialogue. He implicitly compared the situation to the current political climate, referencing President Trump's accusations of an "anti-Semitic, left-wing" atmosphere at Harvard.
For weeks, Trump has targeted Harvard, citing pro-Palestinian demonstrations on campus since the start of the Gaza war in October 2023. The U.S. government has since moved to limit federal funding for Harvard, with the possibility of further reductions forthcoming. Harvard has refused to abolish diversity programs or submit students and staff to increased scrutiny, a demand put forth by the government. However, President Garber did acknowledge individual instances of anti-Semitism on campus.
Relevant Enrichment Data:
- The Trump administration alleged that Harvard had coordinated with the Chinese Communist Party on campus, creating a "toxic campus climate," and had revoked the university's authorization to enroll international students, affecting approximately 6,800 students for the 2024-2025 academic year. The U.S. government's actions threaten to compromise the legal status of these students.
- The situation surrounding federal funding for Harvard remains unclear, as the provided search results do not detail any final decisions or outcomes related to the dispute. The information focuses on the revocation of Harvard's ability to enroll international students but does not mention federal funding consequences.
- Amidst the controversy surrounding the revocation of Harvard University's authorization to enroll international students, President Donald Trump has targeted the elite university, citing political concerns and alleging coordination with the Chinese Communist Party, potentially affecting over 6,800 students for the 2024-2025 academic year.
- The ongoing debate about education-and-self-development and politics intensifies, with discussions regarding federal funding for Harvard still unresolved. The Trump administration's actions, including the threatened revocation of Harvard's authorization to enroll international students, have raised concerns about the general-news implications for Harvard and other elite universities in Massachusetts and across the United States.
