The president of Harvard University, Alan Garberannounced Monday that the prestigious academic institution of the United States has filed a lawsuit against Donald Trump’s government, after valued at more than three million dollars (2.6 million euros) When considering that it has not put a brake on student protests against the war in Gaza. “A few moments ago, we filed a lawsuit to stop the freezing of funds for being illegal and exceed the authority of the government,” he said in a statement in which he argues that “the consequences of government overreach will be serious and lasting” and regrets that the Executive has “justified its illegal action” with the university’s response to anti -Semitism.
Therefore, he has emphasized that “as a Jew and as an American” he knows “very well that there are valid concerns about the increase in anti -Semitism, although” Harvard takes that work very seriously “and” addressing it effectively requires understanding, intention and surveillance. ” This is not just our legal responsibility. It is our moral imperative, “he said.
Garber has denounced that the White House has “taken several measures after Harvard’s refusal to meet its illegal demands”, which include “unprecedented improper control” about the university, as well as the freezing of millions of dollars in subsidies and initiated “numerous investigations” on Harvard operations.
“As a Jewish and American, I know very well that there is a valid concern about the increase in anti -Semitism. To address it effectively, understanding, intention and surveillance is required. Harvard takes that job seriously,” Garber added, who accused the government of using anti -Semitism to justify “an illegal action.” In the litigation, the educational center accuses multiple members of the US government, including the Secretary of Health, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and the Secretary of the Department of Education, Linda McMahon, of violating the first amendment of the Constitution by freezing its financing.
Thus, he has considered that “these actions have serious consequences for patients, students, teachers, personnel, researchers and the reputation of American higher education in the world”, since “the research that the government has put in danger includes” working groups on several diseases such as cancer, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s Parkinson.
“The victims will be future patients and their loved ones, who will suffer the anguish of diseases that could have been prevented or treated more effectively. Indiscriminately cutting medical, scientific and technological research undermines the country’s ability to save American lives, boost US success and maintain the position of the United States as a world leader in innovation,” he said.
However, he has defended the values of American higher education, highlighting that he defends “the truth that universities throughout the country can assume and fulfill their legal obligations and better fulfill their essential role in society without the undue interference of the government.” “This is how we achieve academic excellence, we protect open research and freedom of expression,” he has settled.
Garber’s announcement is an escalation of tension between the president and the university, which rejected on April 14 a series of government requirements to avoid the cut of funds, among which were to end their diversity programs and monitor the ideological orientation of their foreign students.
After Harvard’s response, the president froze funds worth 2.2 billion dollars for the entity and has threatened to eliminate the exemption of taxes he enjoys. In addition, last Friday the National Security Department announced the cancellation of an aid of 2.7 billion and demanded a record of “illegal and violent activities” of international students. To this is added that the Government plans to cut another 1,000 million to the institution that are destined for health research, according to Sunday The Wall Street Journal.
Harvard is one of the universities – in addition to Columbia and Princeton, among others – that have seen their financing threatened by reports of the “Federal Working Group to combat anti -Semitism” created by Trump, for applying policies of ‘positive discrimination’ or for not accommodating what the Trump government qualifies as “diversity of ideas.” In his case, Columbia did accept the demands imposed by the government so as not to lose 400 million dollars in federal financing.
