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The Trump administration has significantly altered the landscape of federal research funding, using it strategically as a tool to influence university governance and policies. This has involved the suspension of billions in research funding and the threat of additional holds contingent on the implementation of reforms deemed essential by the administration. For Columbia University, these reforms extend to mandates regarding the leadership structure of various academic departments.
Recently, the federal government communicated a set of demands to Harvard University, framing them as prerequisites for preserving its financial ties with federal funding. In a swift rebuttal, Harvard indicated that acquiescing to these demands would effectively place the institution under federal control. The response also included a transformation of the university’s homepage into a platform showcasing the vital research that would be at risk if federal funding were withdrawn.
Diversity, but only the right kind
Harvard made public the letter it received from federal officials, which itemized a series of expectations. Many of these requests align with the Trump administration’s overarching ideology. Notably, the admissions and hiring processes are instructed to eliminate all diversity initiatives, with the university required to submit detailed data concerning its faculty and student demographics for government scrutiny. Among other mandates aimed at combating perceived antisemitism, the letter calls for defunding pro-Palestinian organizations on campus and instructs university leaders to ensure that student admissions do not include individuals perceived as antagonistic to American values and institutions.
The demands also encompass broader cultural issues, including a requirement to ban masks on campus and prohibit the “de-platforming” of speakers. Furthermore, universities are encouraged to implement rigorous plagiarism screenings for all faculty hires, a topic that was particularly contentious following the resignation of Harvard’s former president, who faced scrutiny over her congressional testimony. The letter stipulates that any infractions by non-citizen faculty members would necessitate immediate notification to the Department of Homeland Security and the State Department, potentially leading to deportation.
Perhaps the most dramatic shift in the letter is the administration’s approach to diversity. Previously, the Trump administration had criticized Harvard’s existing diversity efforts as contrary to merit-based standards. However, the new demands introduce the concept of “viewpoint diversity,” a term that remains undefined but suggests a form of affirmative action favoring conservative perspectives. The university is now instructed to assess and ensure that its student body, faculty, staff, and administrative leadership reflect a balance of viewpoints within each department or academic unit. Departments that do not meet this vague criterion will be obligated to recruit additional faculty to comply with the federal standards.
Source
arstechnica.com