Latest news with #HarvardStudents
ABC News
29-05-2025
- Business
- ABC News
Aussies caught in Trump versus Harvard battle
Sabra Lane: Australian students are caught up in the Trump administration's escalating fight with Harvard University. US presidents warning the institution to behave as billions of dollars in funding has been slashed to the university. The State Department stopped scheduling interviews for prospective international students as it ramps up social media screening of applicants. North America correspondent Lauren Day reports. Protestor 1: Harvard's voice is loud and clear. Protest group: Harvard's voice is loud and clear. Protestor 1: Every student's welcome here. Protest group: Every student's welcome here. Lauren Day: While their classmates gather in graduation gowns and caps, Harvard students fight for the future of America's oldest university. Protestor 1: Free ideas and free speech get in the way of authoritarians. And so like authoritarians before him in places like Russia, like Turkey and like Hungary, Donald Trump is attacking universities. Lauren Day: The Ivy League university has been in the president's crosshairs, along with a number of other institutions he accuses of promoting left-wing ideals and failing to address anti-Semitism on campus. Donald Trump: Harvard is treating our country with great disrespect. And all they're doing is getting in deeper and deeper and deeper. They've got to behave themselves. You know, I'm looking out for the country and for Harvard. I want Harvard to do well. I want Harvard to be great again. Lauren Day: The Trump administration has cut billions of dollars of federal funding for the university and moved to bar it from enrolling international students. It's now also stopped scheduling interviews for prospective students from abroad as it prepares to expand screening of their social media accounts. The moves have worried Australian students like Sarah Davis, the co-president of the Australia New Zealand Club at Harvard University. Sarah Davis: The vast majority of students who are graduating or who have already graduated, most of us are staying in the United States and are completely reliant on Harvard University's continued sponsorship of our working rights. Lauren Day: PhD student James Bailey is graduating this week. He had hoped to stay on to continue postdoctorate research on a project using AI to track poverty in Africa. Instead, he has to leave the US after massive funding cuts to scientific research. James Bailey: It seems to me deliberately destructive and therefore kind of wasteful. Wasteful is maybe too light of a word in terms of how much disruption it's had on some people's lives. Lauren Day: But he sees himself as one of the lucky ones. James Bailey: I know many others that have been cut short or stopped mid-study, which is terrible for science, but also ethically difficult when you're studying people and you have to cut that study in the middle. Lauren Day: The university's president, Alan Garber, told NPR the Trump administration's actions are part of a broader assault on higher education in America. Alan Garber: It is a warning. They see this as a message that if you don't comply with what we're demanding, these will be the consequences. Lauren Day: President Trump shows no sign of backing down, today describing Harvard as a disaster and totally anti-Semitic. Donald Trump: Harvard has to understand the last thing I want to do is hurt them. They're hurting themselves, they're fighting, but Harvard wants to fight. They want to show how smart they are and they're getting their ass kicked. Lauren Day: This is Lauren Day in Washington reporting for AM.
Free Malaysia Today
28-05-2025
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
Harvard students march after Trump seeks to cut remaining contracts
Yesterday's protest at Harvard unfolded as news helicopters hovered overhead. (EPA Images pic) CAMBRIDGE : Harvard students protested yesterday after the US government said it intends to cancel all remaining financial contracts with the university, president Donald Trump's latest attempt to force the prestigious institution to submit to unprecedented oversight. Hundreds of students gathered to oppose Trump's widening offensive, including yesterday's measures estimated to be worth US$100 million, against the university that has drawn his ire for refusing to give up control of curriculum, admissions and research. 'Trump = traitor' read one student placard, while the crowd chanted 'who belongs in class today, let them stay' in reference to Harvard's international students whose status Trump has upended by summarily revoking the university's accreditation to the country's student and exchange visitor programme. A judge issued a restraining order pending a hearing on the matter scheduled for tomorrow, the same day as the university's commencement graduation ceremony for which thousands of graduating students and their families had gathered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, near Boston. The White House, meanwhile doubled down in its offensive, saying that instead of Harvard public money should go to vocational schools that train electricians and plumbers. 'The president is more interested in giving that taxpayer money to trade schools and programs and state schools where they are promoting American values, but most importantly, educating the next generation based on skills that we need in our economy and our society,' Karoline Leavitt said on Fox News yesterday evening. 'We need more of those in our country, and less LGBTQ graduate majors from Harvard University.' Yesterday's protest unfolded as news helicopters hovered overhead and graduating students in academic attire and their guests ate finger food at a reception on the lawns of Harvard Square nearby. 'All my international friends and peers and professors and researchers are at risk and (are) threatened with being deported – or their option is to transfer' to another university, said Alice Goyer, who attended the protest wearing a black academic gown. 'As a US student, it's my responsibility to speak out for them.' One history of medicine student from Britain graduating this week who gave his name only as Jack said that the policies pursued by Trump would make US universities less attractive to international students, even if the courts overturn the most damaging measures. 'The cloud may pass, but the damage will be done,' said Jack, whose parents had travelled from Britain for the graduation ceremony. Foreign students 'who are here don't know where they stand, those overseas don't know if they'll be able to get back in… I don't know if I'd pursue a PhD here, six years is a long time', he added. Harvard itself has filed extensive legal challenges against the Trump measures, which legal experts say are likely to be overturned by the courts. Separately, alumni plan to file a lawsuit against Trump on June 9, filmmaker Anurima Bhargava told a virtual meeting staged by Crimson Courage, a grassroots alumni group that held a mass webinar to raise awareness and a fighting fund from former students. 'American values' The cutting of contracts announced yesterday – estimated by US media to be worth US$100 million – would mark the slashing of business ties between the government and a university that is the country's oldest and a research powerhouse. Amid a broad campaign against seats of learning that Trump accuses of being hotbeds of liberal bias and antisemitism, the president has singled out Harvard for particular punishment. In the last few weeks, the elite educational powerhouse has seen billions of dollars in federal grants frozen and millions of dollars of federal contracts torn up. The university has sued both to block the revocation of its right to recruit and sponsor foreign students, 27% of its total roll, as well as to overturn the withdrawal of federal funding. A legal expert suggested Harvard could file a lawsuit to overturn the latest contract cuts as part of existing legal action. 'The case is so strong that the court system is not going to step to the side and allow this… to go forward,' said Albany Law School professor Ray Brescia. He said the Trump administration's assault on Harvard was so flawed that a higher court would likely strike down the campaign against the university if the Trump administration were to challenge it on appeal. On Monday, Trump nonetheless vowed he would prevail in the increasingly public struggle, claiming that foreign students at Harvard included 'radicalised lunatics, troublemakers'.
CNA
28-05-2025
- Business
- CNA
Harvard students march after Trump seeks to cut remaining contracts
CAMBRIDGE, United States: Harvard students protested Tuesday (May 27) after the US government said it intends to cancel all remaining financial contracts with the university, President Donald Trump's latest attempt to force the prestigious institution to submit to unprecedented oversight. Hundreds of students gathered to oppose Trump's widening offensive, including Tuesday's measures estimated to be worth US$100 million, against the university that has drawn his ire for refusing to give up control of curriculum, admissions and research. "Trump = traitor" read one student placard, while the crowd chanted "who belongs in class today, let them stay" in reference to Harvard's international students whose status Trump has upended by summarily revoking the university's accreditation to the country's Student and Exchange Visitor program. A judge issued a restraining order pending a hearing on the matter scheduled for Thursday, the same day as the university's commencement graduation ceremony, for which thousands of graduating students and their families had gathered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, near Boston. The White House, meanwhile, doubled down in its offensive, saying that instead of Harvard, public money should go to vocational schools that train electricians and plumbers. "The president is more interested in giving that taxpayer money to trade schools and programs and state schools where they are promoting American values, but most importantly, educating the next generation based on skills that we need in our economy and our society," Karoline Leavitt said on Fox News Tuesday evening. "We need more of those in our country, and less LGBTQ graduate majors from Harvard University." Tuesday's protest unfolded as news helicopters hovered overhead and graduating students in academic attire and their guests ate finger food at a reception on the lawns of Harvard Square nearby. "All my international friends and peers and professors and researchers are at risk and (are) threatened with being deported - or their option is to transfer" to another university, said Alice Goyer, who attended the protest wearing a black academic gown. "As a US student, it's my responsibility to speak out for them." One history of medicine student from Britain graduating this week who gave his name only as Jack said that the policies pursued by Trump would make US universities less attractive to international students, even if the courts overturn the most damaging measures. "The cloud may pass, but the damage will be done," said Jack, whose parents had travelled from Britain for the graduation ceremony. Foreign students "who are here don't know where they stand, those overseas don't know if they'll be able to get back in ... I don't know if I'd pursue a PhD here, six years is a long time", he added. Harvard itself has filed extensive legal challenges against the Trump measures, which legal experts say are likely to be overturned by the courts. Separately, alumni plan to file a lawsuit against Trump on Jun 9, filmmaker Anurima Bhargava told a virtual meeting staged by Crimson Courage, a grassroots alumni group that held a mass webinar to raise awareness and a fighting fund from former students. "AMERICAN VALUES" The cutting of contracts announced Tuesday - estimated by US media to be worth US$100 million - would mark the slashing of business ties between the government and a university that is the country's oldest and a research powerhouse. Amid a broad campaign against seats of learning that Trump accuses of being hotbeds of liberal bias and anti-Semitism, the president has singled out Harvard for particular punishment. In the last few weeks, the elite educational powerhouse has seen billions of dollars in federal grants frozen and millions of dollars of federal contracts torn up. The university has sued both to block the revocation of its right to recruit and sponsor foreign students, 27 per cent of its total roll, as well as to overturn the withdrawal of federal funding. A legal expert suggested Harvard could file a lawsuit to overturn the latest contract cuts as part of existing legal action. "The case is so strong that the court system is not going to step to the side and allow this ... to go forward," said Albany Law School professor Ray Brescia. He said the Trump administration's assault on Harvard was so flawed that a higher court would likely strike down the campaign against the university if the Trump administration were to challenge it on appeal.
CBS News
24-05-2025
- Business
- CBS News
International student at Harvard says Trump's actions have caused "a lot of havoc"
When the Trump administration announced its plan to ban Harvard University from enrolling international students earlier this week, it sent shockwaves of uncertainty through households around the world. On Friday, Harvard sued the White House over its efforts and a federal judge quickly put a temporary block on the measure. Students are waiting to see if that ruling sticks with a hearing scheduled for next week. Harvard says 27% of its total enrollment are international students who represent at least 147 countries. Abdullah Shahid Sial is one of them. "It has definitely caused a lot of havoc. A lot of panic," said Sial, who learned of the news on a flight to Japan. Harvard students in limbo A rising junior from Pakistan, Sial is a Harvard Student Body co-president who said his status with the school is in limbo. He also said some students started transferring from the university last semester due to the uncertainty of the feud between the White House and university. "The U.S. also benefits heavily, heavily from these international students coming in because clearly they represent the best of their respective countries," said Sial. "When they come here, they start businesses, they work in different companies, they create a lot of employment. Silicon Valley was built by the children of immigrants and that's a massive part of the U.S. economy." Students work their entire life to build the resume and credentials to get accepted into Harvard. It's notoriously one of the toughest schools to get into. Giulio Pellieno got his golden ticket with an acceptance to study economics as a freshman this fall. "It's quite unreal to be accepted to such a great university," said Pellieno who lives in Germany. "I have looked up to the U.S. for its boldness and tech ideas and innovativeness and I still do. But I think the whole situation really tests the belief in American higher education because it's really unsettling and unsure for me." Trump on Harvard University On Friday, President Trump spoke in the Oval Office for the first time on his efforts to ban international students from Harvard and a judge's temporary restriction. "Billions of dollars has been paid to Harvard. How ridiculous is that? Billions. And they have $52 billion as an endowment. They have $52 billion," Trump said. "So, Harvard is going to have to change its ways."
CNN
23-05-2025
- Politics
- CNN
Harvard student body president says international students are 'being used as poker chips'
After the Trump administration's decision to revoke Harvard University's ability to enroll international students, the school's international student body has been thrown into anxiety and confusion. CNN spoke to 20-year-old Abdullah Shahid Sial, a rising junior and student body co-president at Harvard, about his reaction to the decision.
