Rector of the University, Alan Garber, accused US government of interfering with academic freedom: ‘One should not dictate what they can teach, who can recruit and hire, or what themes can research’ ‘
The government of announced on Monday (14) that they froze $ 2.2 billion ($ 12.8 billion) in funds intended for one of the most prestigious in the world, after the institution refuses to meet demands to “end” on the campus. Harvard, like other educational institutions in the United States, has been the scene of student protests against the war em – A theme under the white house spotlight since Trump returned to power in January.
“The joint working group to combat anti -Semitism has announced the freezing of $ 2.2 billion in subsidies over several years,” the department of education in a statement, as well as “multi -annual contracts worth $ 60 million” ($ 350.5 million). “The interruption of learning that has affected the campuses in recent years is unacceptable. Harassment to Jewish students is intolerable,” the statement added. Earlier, the university had made public a letter directed to students and employees, in which it challenged a long list of Trump administration requirements regarding its management, hiring practices and admissions policy.
In the text, Rector Alan Garber stated that the institution “will not give up its independence or the rights guaranteed to it by the Constitution.” “Today’s Harvard Declaration reinforces the worrying mindset that is endemic in the most prestigious universities and colleges of our nation: that federal investment is not accompanied by the responsibility of defending civil rights laws,” replied the White House.
In late March, the US government announced that it was considering depriving the university about $ 9 billion ($ 52.7 billion) in federal subsidies. “No government, regardless of which party being in power, should say to private universities what they can teach, who can recruit and hire, or what topics they can research,” added Rector Garber to his letter.
He referred to the Trump administration’s requirement that Harvard “audited” the opinions of students and teachers. About this point, the institution had already responded in another letter, signed by its lawyers, that “it is not willing to accept requirements that go beyond the legitimate authority of this or any other administration.”
According to the university, Trump’s requests “contradict the first amendment” and “violate academic freedoms have long guaranteed the Supreme Court.” The first amendment of the United States Constitution guarantees fundamental freedoms, especially freedom of expression.
For similar reasons, the government has already cut $ 400 million (R $ 2.33 billion) in contributions to the University of Columbia in New York, which, unlike Harvard, pledged to perform drastic reforms to try to recover funds. Federal subsidies represent 11% of Harvard revenues over an annual budget of $ 6.4 billion (R $ 37.4 billion), according to data released by this private university located near Boston, in the northeast of the country.
*With information from AFP
Posted by Victor Oliveira
