Harvard President says critics' "fire is misdirected"
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What warning does Harvard's President see for universities?
I wonder if you agree with that statement, that this episode is, in fact, a warning to all universities across the country.
Well, they said it, and I have to believe it. And I've repeated it myself.
President Trump's administration strikes again and again at the nation's oldest university, and Harvard has now sued the administration twice. What does the university do now? We have an interview with Harvard President Alan Garber in a special episode of Up First from NPR News. Coming up, Alan Garber calls on universities to insist on their rights.
What actions has the Trump administration taken against Harvard?
We need to be firm in our commitments to what we stand for. He also admits Harvard has not always lived up to its commitment to the truth. When we fail in that, then we can expect to be attacked. Harvard has been attacked, so what does the president think his university is doing right and wrong? We put questions to Alan Garber, a figure in the news, today. President Trump's administration began this week the same way that it ended last week with attacks on Harvard University. NPR has confirmed the administration plans to cancel another $100 million in contracts with Harvard. The administration had already put on hold some $2 billion in grants and contracts. Last week, the administration banned Harvard from hosting foreign students, and that prompted Harvard President Alan Garber to sue for the second time. A judge temporarily blocked the administration so foreign students can stay for now, but when we sat down with Garber on Monday, he knew the fight was far from over.
As you know very well, Mr. President, the Trump administration has taken a number of actions against Harvard University. They've cut off grants in a number of different ways. And most recently, they've ordered all international students to leave the university for some other university or for their home countries. In your lawsuit, the most recent of your lawsuits about this, you argue very quickly that this isn't really about international students, that it's an act of retaliation. What is really going on in your view?
What is Harvard's response to the international student ban?
In my view, the federal government is saying that we need to address anti-Semitism in particular, but it has raised other issues, including issues about speech, and it includes claims that we lack viewpoint diversity. There are also claims about failure to comply with laws concerning discrimination more generally. For some of this, we have been very clear that we think we do have issues, and I would particularly emphasize the speech issues. We think it's a real problem if, particularly at research universities, students don't feel free to speak their minds. When faculty feel that they have to think twice before they talk about the subjects that they're teaching. That's a real problem that we need to address. And it's particularly concerning when people who have views that they think are unpopular and the administration and others have said conservatives are too few on campus and their views are not welcome. And so far as that's true, that's a problem we really need to address. Is it true?
I think that we have heard from some people that they do feel that way. So we certainly need to address that. And that means changing views in the community, making diverse viewpoints more welcome. It includes skills in speaking as well as skills in listening. So the federal government has referred to some of these areas. And as I said, we agree that some of these problems we absolutely need to address. What is perplexing is the measures that they have taken to address these that don't even hit the same people that they believe are causing the problems. Why cut off research funding? Sure, it hurts Harvard, but it hurts the country because after all, the research funding is not a gift.
How does Harvard address issues of free speech on campus?
The research funding is given to universities and other research institutions to carry out work that the research work that the federal government designates as high priority work. It is work that they want done. They are paying to have that work conducted. Shutting off that work does not help the country, even as it punishes Harvard.
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Chapters
8 chapters
1
What warning does Harvard's President see for universities?
0:00–0:37
2
What actions has the Trump administration taken against Harvard?
0:37–2:14
3
What is Harvard's response to the international student ban?
2:14–4:19
4
How does Harvard address issues of free speech on campus?
4:19–13:20
5
What are the recent challenges related to anti-Semitism at Harvard?
13:20–17:52
6
How does Harvard's situation compare to other universities in America?
17:52
7
What recommendations has Harvard implemented to address campus issues?
16:36–19:42
8
What is the future of Harvard amidst political pressures?
19:42–21:18
Speakers
6 identifiedMore from Up First from NPR
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