Secretary Slams 'Unfounded Hate' at Harvard: "Why So Much Contempt?"
Harvard president alleges unjustified reprisal in funding dispute with Trump
Join Bill Bennett on 'our website @ Night' as he discusses Education Secretary Linda McMahon's fiery letter toward Harvard University.
Harvard President Alan Garber sent a letter to Secretary McMahon on Monday, critiquing the Trump administration's actions against the university while acknowledging shared viewpoints on several topics.
"We share agreement on crucial issues, such as combating antisemitism and other prejudice on campus," Garber stated. "Like you, I believe that Harvard should foster an academic setting that encourages free thought and expression, embracing diverse viewpoints instead of focusing on rigid ideologies."
However, Harvard's intentions are compromised by the federal government's encroachment into the constitutional freedoms of private universities and disregard for Harvard's adherence to the law, Garber stated.
*SAN DIEGO SHERIFF BLASTS 'UNFOUNDED' LAWSUIT BY UC SAN DIEGO STUDENTS AGAINST POLICE OVER ANTI-ISRAEL PROTEST DISPERSAL*
Alan Garber, President of Harvard University, addresses the audience during the 373rd Commencement at Harvard University. ((Photo by Craig F. Walker/The Boston Globe via Getty Images))
"Consistent with the law and our values, we'll continue to pursue necessary reforms, consulting our stakeholders and always complying with the law," Garber wrote. "However, Harvard will not relinquish its core, constitutionally-protected principles due to unfounded fears of retaliation by the federal government."
Garber's comments come in response to a harsh letter from McMahon last week, warning Harvard that it would no longer be eligible for federal grants due to its handling of antisemitism on campus.
"Receiving such taxpayer funds is a privilege, not a right," she wrote. "Yet instead of utilizing these funds to enhance the education of its students, Harvard is involved in a systematic pattern of violating federal law. Who are these 'students' and why does Harvard harbor so much INTOLERANCE?"
*ISRAEL'S PRESIDENT SEETHES AT U.S. UNIVERSITY ENCAMPMENTS: "RE-EMERGENCE OF ANTISEMITISM"*
Secretary McMahon sent a scathing letter to Harvard University President Alan Garber, cautioning him against applying for federal grants, as they would be denied. (Getty Images)
"These are questions that need answering, among many others, but the most vital question remains, why won't Harvard provide straight answers to the public?" she added.
The Trump administration has stopped $2.2 billion in funding to the university and threatened to eliminate its tax-exempt status.
*TRUMP THREATENS TO ELIMINATE HARVARD'S TAX-EXEMPTION STATUS*
In his letter, Garber outlined various measures Harvard has taken to address issues on campus, including installing new deans and clarifying the school's discipline structures and procedures. He noted that Harvard, much like other universities, has work left to foster intellectual diversity on campus.
Garber also refuted McMahon's assertion that Harvard is a partisan institution.
"I must refute your claim that Harvard is a partisan institution. It is neither Republican nor Democratic," he wrote. "It is not an arm of any political party or movement. Nor will it ever be. Harvard is a place to gather people of diverse backgrounds to learn in an inclusive environment where ideas proliferate, regardless of whether they are deemed 'conservative,' 'liberal,' or otherwise, a place where beliefs are tested and evaluated, respectfully and thoughtfully, in pursuit of knowledge and truth."
Louis Casiano is a reporter for our website Digital. You can send story tips to [email protected]*.
- Bill Bennett, in his show on our website, may discuss Secretary McMahon's letter to Harvard University, touching on topics such as politics, education-and-self-development, and general news, specifically the Secretary's concerns about Harvard's handling of antisemitism on campus.
- The heated exchange between Secretary McMahon and Harvard President Alan Garber centers on politics, with the Secretary urging Harvard to address issues on campus, particularly antisemitism, while the President defends the university's commitment to education, free thought, and diversity, and refutes claims of partisanship.
