New York [US], April 19: The confrontation between the White House and Harvard University is heating up, even US President Donald Trump has called this school a "disgrace".
The Trump administration has threatened to strip Harvard University of its right to international admissions, as well as launch an investigation that could lead to the revocation of its tax-exempt privileges.
International students face risk
After Harvard University leaders refused to comply with Washington's request to force the university to adjust a series of anti-Semitic policies on campus, the White House took action to attack the two pillars that helped Harvard achieve its current reputation. It is the ability to attract talent from around the world and abundant funding from the richest class in the United States to enjoy the tax exemption, according to the AP.
Harvard University data shows that international students make up 27 percent of students at the university, most of whom are concentrated in graduate programs and often conduct research at the national level. Depriving the university of its right to international admissions will undermine its academic strength. Leo Gerden, a fourth-year student from Sweden, warned that "all student visas at Harvard University are at risk" as the "war" with the White House continues.
Regarding the revocation of Harvard University's tax exemption privilege, President Trump said on April 17 that there is no official decision regarding this possibility. The Associated Press cited a source familiar with the matter as saying that the U.S. Treasury Department has tasked Andrew De Mello, acting chief counsel of the Internal Revenue Service, to begin the process of depriving Harvard University of its tax exemption on April 15.
However, in an email to the press, White House spokesman Harrison Fields said the Internal Revenue Service had been conducting a tax investigation into Harvard University since before April 15.
U.S. House of Representatives investigation
In addition, POLITICO newspaper reported yesterday (VN time) that Republican lawmakers in the US House of Representatives announced the opening of an investigation into Harvard University on suspicion that the university violated civil law related to how to handle anti-Semitic activities.
In a letter to Harvard University President Alan Garber, House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer and House Republican leader Elise Stefanik asked the university to hand over documents documenting the university's exchanges as part of the Trump administration's processing of the request late last week.
Documents required to be submitted to the U.S. House of Representatives committee include documents related to labor recruitment ; DEI (diversity, equity, inclusion) programs and policies; as well as pro-Palestinian and anti-Semitic demonstrations at school. The letter from Comer and Stefanik also asked Harvard University to provide information about exchanges related to the university's student visa program.
Comer and Stefanik said Garber's refusal to comply with Washington's demands was evidence of Harvard University's unwillingness to stop illegal discrimination. The Harvard Crimson reported that the commission set a deadline of 1.5 for Harvard University to complete the application requirements. Congressmen Comer and Stefanik also have the right to ask President Garber and other Harvard University staff to participate in the hearing in Washington if necessary.
Under pressure from Washington, Harvard University issued a statement saying it would maintain its stance and "will continue to abide by the law and expect the Washington administration to do the same." After Washington froze funding for Harvard University, the influx of personal funding to Harvard University suddenly increased sharply. According to The Harvard Crimson, after President Garber rejected the White House's request on April 14, the university received an average of 88 online grants every hour that passed. The total amount of funding in less than 2 days has reached 1.14 million USD and mainly comes from the school's alumni.
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper