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Kuwait Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- Kuwait Times
Harvard University holds graduation in shadow of Trump threat
CAMBRIDGE: Harvard held its annual graduation ceremony Thursday as a federal judge considers the legality of punitive measures taken against the university by US President Donald Trump. Hundreds of robed students and academics squeezed onto the steps of the campus's main library as Trump piles unprecedented pressure onto the university, one of the most prestigious in the world. The president is seeking to ban Harvard from having foreign students, shredding its federal contracts, slashing its multibillion-dollar grants and challenging its tax-free status. The Ivy League institution has continually drawn Trump's ire while publicly rejecting his administration's repeated demands to give up control of recruitment, curricula and research choices. The government claims Harvard tolerates anti-Semitism and liberal bias. 'Harvard is treating our country with great disrespect, and all they're doing is getting in deeper and deeper,' Trump said Wednesday. Harvard president Alan Garber got a huge cheer Thursday when he mentioned international students attending the graduation with their families, saying it was 'as it should be'—but Garber did not mention the Trump fight directly. Garber has acknowledged that Harvard does have issues with anti-Semitism and that it has struggled to ensure that a variety of views can be safely heard on campus. Ahead of the ceremony, members of the Harvard band sporting distinctive crimson blazers and brandishing their instruments filed through the narrow streets of Cambridge, Massachusetts—home to the elite school, America's oldest university. In front of a huge stage, hundreds of chairs were laid out in a grassy precinct that was closed off to the public as the event got under way. Students wearing black academic gowns toured through Cambridge with family members taking photographs. Madeleine Riskin-Kutz, a Franco-American classics and linguistics student at Harvard, said some students were planning individual acts of protest against the Trump policies. 'The atmosphere (is) that just continuing on joyfully with the processions and the fanfare is in itself an act of resistance,' the 22-year-old said. Court battles Garber has led the legal fightback in US academia after Trump targeted several prestigious universities—including Columbia, which made sweeping concessions to the administration in an effort to restore $400 million of withdrawn federal grants. A federal judge in Boston will on Thursday hear arguments over Trump's effort to exclude Harvard from the main system for sponsoring and hosting foreign students. Judge Allison Burroughs has temporarily paused the policy which would have ended Harvard's ability to bring students from abroad who currently make up 27 percent of its student body. Harvard has since been flooded with inquiries from foreign students seeking to transfer to other institutions, Maureen Martin, director of immigration services, said Wednesday. 'Many international students and scholars are reporting significant emotional distress that is affecting their mental health and making it difficult to focus on their studies,' Martin wrote in a court filing. Retired immigration judge Patricia Sheppard protested outside Harvard Yard on Wednesday, sporting a black judicial robe and brandishing a sign reading 'for the rule of law.' Basketball star and human rights campaigner Kareem Abdul-Jabbar addressed the class of 2025 for Class Day on Wednesday. 'When a tyrannical administration tried to bully and threaten Harvard to give up their academic freedom and destroy free speech, Dr Alan Garber rejected the illegal and immoral pressures,' he said, comparing Garber to civil rights icon Rosa Parks. — AFP
Int'l Business Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- Int'l Business Times
Harvard Holds Graduation In Shadow Of Trump 'Retribution'
Harvard began its annual graduation ceremony Thursday as a federal judge considers the legality of punitive measures taken against the university by US President Donald Trump that threaten to overshadow festivities. Hundreds of robed students and academics squeezed onto the steps of the campus's main library early Thursday as Trump piles unprecedented pressure onto the university, one of the most prestigious in the world. He is seeking to ban it from having foreign students, shredding its federal contracts, slashing its multibillion-dollar grants and challenging its tax-free status. Harvard is fighting all of the measures in court. The Ivy League institution has continually drawn Trump's ire while publicly rejecting his administration's repeated demands to give up control of recruitment, curricula and research choices. The government claims Harvard tolerates anti-Semitism and liberal bias. "Harvard is treating our country with great disrespect, and all they're doing is getting in deeper and deeper," Trump said Wednesday. Harvard president Alan Garber, who told National Public Radio on Tuesday that "sometimes they don't like what we represent," may address the ceremony, which will be attended by as many as 30,000 people. Garber has acknowledged that Harvard does have issues with anti-Semitism, and has struggled to ensure that a variety of views can be safely heard on campus. "The Covenant of Water" author Abraham Verghese will be the commencement speaker and will receive an honorary degree in front of crowds wearing academic garb. Ahead of the ceremony, members of the Harvard band sporting distinctive crimson blazers and brandishing their instruments filed through the narrow streets of Cambridge, Massachusetts -- home to the elite school, America's oldest university. A huge stage had been erected and hundreds of chairs laid out in a grassy precinct that was closed off to the public as the event got under way. Students wearing black academic gowns also toured through Cambridge with photo-taking family members, AFP correspondents saw. Madeleine Riskin-Kutz, a Franco-American classics and linguistics student at Harvard, said some students were planning individual acts of protest against the Trump policies. "The atmosphere (is) that just continuing on joyfully with the processions and the fanfare is in itself an act of resistance," the 22-year-old said. Garber has led the fightback in US academia after Trump targeted several prestigious universities -- including Columbia, which made sweeping concessions to the administration in an effort to restore $400 million of withdrawn federal grants. A federal judge in Boston will on Thursday hear arguments over Trump's effort to exclude Harvard from the main system for sponsoring and hosting foreign students. Judge Allison Burroughs quickly paused the policy which would have ended Harvard's ability to bring students from abroad who currently make up 27 percent of its student body. Harvard has since been flooded with inquiries from foreign students seeking to transfer to other institutions, Maureen Martin, director of immigration services, said Wednesday. "Many international students and scholars are reporting significant emotional distress that is affecting their mental health and making it difficult to focus on their studies," Martin wrote in a court filing. Retired immigration judge Patricia Sheppard protested outside Harvard Yard on Wednesday, sporting a black judicial robe and brandishing a sign reading "for the rule of law." Basketball star and human rights campaigner Kareem Abdul-Jabbar addressed the class of 2025 for Class Day on Wednesday. "When a tyrannical administration tried to bully and threaten Harvard to give up their academic freedom and destroy free speech, Dr. Alan Garber rejected the illegal and immoral pressures," he said, comparing Garber to civil rights icon Rosa Parks.
Straits Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
Harvard to hold May 29 graduation in shadow of Trump ‘retribution'
The commencement comes as Mr Trump piles unprecedented pressure on Harvard. PHOTO: AFP Harvard to hold May 29 graduation in shadow of Trump 'retribution' CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts – Harvard is due to hold its annual graduation ceremony on May 29 as a federal judge considers the legality of punitive measures taken against the university by President Donald Trump that threaten to overshadow the ceremony. The commencement comes as Mr Trump piles unprecedented pressure on Harvard, seeking to ban it from having foreign students, shredding its contracts with the federal government, slashing its multibillion-dollar grants and challenging its tax-free status. Harvard is challenging all of the measures in court. The Ivy League institution has continually drawn Mr Trump's ire while publicly rejecting his administration's repeated demands to give up control of recruitment, curricula and research choices. The government claims Harvard tolerates anti-Semitism and liberal bias. 'Harvard is treating our country with great disrespect, and all they're doing is getting in deeper and deeper,' Mr Trump said on May 28. Harvard president Alan Garber, who told National Public Radio on May 27 that 'sometimes they don't like what we represent', may speak to address the ceremony. Dr Garber has acknowledged that Harvard does have issues with anti-Semitism, and has struggled to ensure that a variety of viewpoints can be safely heard on campus. 'What is perplexing is the measures that they have taken to address these (issues) don't even hit the same people that they believe are causing the problems,' Dr Garber told NPR. Basketball star and human rights campaigner Kareem Abdul-Jabbar addressed the class of 2025 for Class Day on May 28. 'When a tyrannical administration tried to bully and threaten Harvard to give up their academic freedom and destroy free speech, Dr Alan Garber rejected the illegal and immoral pressures,' he said, comparing Dr Garber to civil rights icon Rosa Parks. Ms Madeleine Riskin-Kutz, a Franco-American classics and linguistics student at Harvard, said some students were planning individual acts of protest against the Trump policies. 'The atmosphere (is) that just continuing on joyfully with the processions and the fanfare is in itself an act of resistance,' the 22-year-old said. Legal fightback Dr Garber has led the fight-back in US academia after Mr Trump targeted several prestigious universities, including Columbia, which made sweeping concessions to the administration in an effort to restore US$400 million (S$632 million) of withdrawn federal grants. A federal judge in Boston will on May 29 hear arguments over Mr Trump's effort to exclude Harvard from the main system for sponsoring and hosting foreign students. Judge Allison Burroughs quickly paused the policy, which would have ended Harvard's ability to bring students from abroad who currently make up 27 per cent of its student body. Harvard has since been flooded with inquiries from foreign students seeking to transfer to other institutions, Ms Maureen Martin, director of immigration services, said on May 28. 'Many international students and scholars are reporting significant emotional distress that is affecting their mental health and making it difficult to focus on their studies,' Ms Martin wrote in a court filing. Retired immigration judge Patricia Sheppard protested outside Harvard Yard on May 28, sporting a black judicial robe and brandishing a sign reading 'for the rule of law'. Ahead of the graduation ceremony, members of the Harvard band sporting distinctive crimson blazers and brandishing their instruments filed through the narrow streets of Cambridge, Massachusetts, home to the elite school, America's oldest university. A huge stage was erected and hundreds of chairs laid out in a grassy precinct that was closed off to the public for the occasion. Students wearing black academic gowns also toured through Cambridge with photo-taking family members. AFP Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
NDTV
3 days ago
- Politics
- NDTV
Harvard To Hold Graduation Ceremony In Shadow Of Trump 'Retribution'
Washington: Harvard is due to hold its annual graduation ceremony Thursday as a federal judge considers the legality of punitive measures taken against the university by President Donald Trump that threaten to overshadow festivities. Thursday's commencement comes as Trump piles unprecedented pressure on Harvard, seeking to ban it from having foreign students, shredding its contracts with the federal government, slashing its multi-billion dollar grants, and challenging its tax-free status. Harvard is challenging all of the measures in court. The Ivy League institution has continually drawn Trump's ire while publicly rejecting his administration's repeated demands to give up control of recruitment, curricula and research choices. The government claims Harvard tolerates anti-Semitism and liberal bias. "Harvard is treating our country with great disrespect, and all they're doing is getting in deeper and deeper," Trump said Wednesday. Harvard president Alan Garber, who told National Public Radio Tuesday that "sometimes they don't like what we represent," may speak to address the ceremony. Garber has acknowledged that Harvard does have issues with anti-Semitism, and has struggled to ensure that a variety of viewpoints can be safely heard on campus. "What is perplexing is the measures that they have taken to address these (issues) don't even hit the same people that they believe are causing the problems," Garber told NPR. Basketball star and human rights campaigner Kareem Abdul-Jabbar addressed the class of 2025 for Class Day on Wednesday. "When a tyrannical administration tried to bully and threaten Harvard to give up their academic freedom and destroy free speech, Dr. Alan Garber rejected the illegal and immoral pressures the way Rosa Parks declined--" he said to applause. Civil rights icon Parks refused to give up her seat on a bus in Montgomery, Alabama sparking a boycott that ultimately led to the desegregation of services, spurring on the Civil Rights movement in what is widely seen as a watershed moment. Madeleine Riskin-Kutz, 22, a Franco-American classics and linguistics student at Harvard said some students were planning individual acts of protest against the Trump policies. "The atmosphere (is) that just continuing on joyfully with the processions and the fanfare is in itself an act of resistance," she said. Legal fightback Garber has led the fight-back in US academia after Trump targeted several prestigious universities including Columbia which made sweeping concessions to the administration in an effort to restore $400 million of withdrawn federal grants. A federal judge in Boston will on Thursday hear arguments over Trump's effort to exclude Harvard from the main system for sponsoring and hosting foreign students. Judge Allison Burroughs quickly paused the policy which would have ended Harvard's ability to bring students from abroad who currently make up 27 percent of its student body. Retired immigration judge Patricia Sheppard protested outside Harvard Yard Wednesday, sporting a black judicial robe and brandishing a sign reading "for the rule of law." "We have to look at why some of these actions have been filed, and it does not seem to me seemly that a president would engage in certain actions as retribution," she told AFP. Ahead of the ceremony, members of the Harvard band sporting distinctive crimson blazers and brandishing their instruments filed through the narrow streets of Cambridge, Massachusetts that is home to America's oldest university ahead of the graduation ceremony. A huge stage had been erected and hundreds of chairs laid out in a grassy precinct that was closed off to the public for the occasion. Students braved sunny conditions to wear black academic gowns, touring through Cambridge with photo-taking family members, AFP correspondents saw.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Harvard to hold graduation in shadow of Trump 'retribution'
Live Events Legal fightback Harvard is due to hold its annual graduation ceremony on Thursday as a federal judge considers the legality of punitive measures taken against the university by President Donald Trump that threaten to overshadow commencement comes as Trump piles unprecedented pressure on Harvard, seeking to ban it from having foreign students, shredding its contracts with the federal government, slashing its multi-billion dollar grants, and challenging its tax-free is challenging all of the measures in court.(Join our ETNRI WhatsApp channel for all the latest updates)The Ivy League institution has continually drawn Trump's ire while publicly rejecting his administration's repeated demands to give up control of recruitment, curricula and research choices. The government claims Harvard tolerates anti-Semitism and liberal bias."Harvard is treating our country with great disrespect, and all they're doing is getting in deeper and deeper," Trump said president Alan Garber, who told National Public Radio Tuesday that "sometimes they don't like what we represent," may speak to address the has acknowledged that Harvard does have issues with anti-Semitism, and has struggled to ensure that a variety of viewpoints can be safely heard on campus."What is perplexing is the measures that they have taken to address these (issues) don't even hit the same people that they believe are causing the problems," Garber told star and human rights campaigner Kareem Abdul-Jabbar addressed the class of 2025 for Class Day on Wednesday."When a tyrannical administration tried to bully and threaten Harvard to give up their academic freedom and destroy free speech, Dr. Alan Garber rejected the illegal and immoral pressures the way Rosa Parks declined--" he said to rights icon Parks refused to give up her seat on a bus in Montgomery, Alabama sparking a boycott that ultimately led to the desegregation of services, spurring on the Civil Rights movement in what is widely seen as a watershed Riskin-Kutz, 22, a Franco-American classics and linguistics student at Harvard said some students were planning individual acts of protest against the Trump policies."The atmosphere (is) that just continuing on joyfully with the processions and the fanfare is in itself an act of resistance," she has led the fight-back in US academia after Trump targeted several prestigious universities including Columbia which made sweeping concessions to the administration in an effort to restore $400 million of withdrawn federal grants.A federal judge in Boston will on Thursday hear arguments over Trump's effort to exclude Harvard from the main system for sponsoring and hosting foreign Allison Burroughs quickly paused the policy which would have ended Harvard's ability to bring students from abroad who currently make up 27 percent of its student immigration judge Patricia Sheppard protested outside Harvard Yard Wednesday, sporting a black judicial robe and brandishing a sign reading "for the rule of law.""We have to look at why some of these actions have been filed, and it does not seem to me seemly that a president would engage in certain actions as retribution," she told of the ceremony, members of the Harvard band sporting distinctive crimson blazers and brandishing their instruments filed through the narrow streets of Cambridge, Massachusetts that is home to America's oldest university ahead of the graduation ceremony.A huge stage had been erected and hundreds of chairs laid out in a grassy precinct that was closed off to the public for the braved sunny conditions to wear black academic gowns, touring through Cambridge with photo-taking family members, AFP correspondents saw.
