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Harvard's response to federal government letter demanding changes

harvard.edu

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Re: Harvard's response to federal government letter demanding changes

#361

Post by darioush »

ghusto wrote: post #33

This is the only correct response, but I don't think I'm being overly cynical in thinking they're being opportunistic either. They're quite happy to turn a blind eye to unfashionable political views being silenced, so there's a pinch of hypocrisy in making such a show of standing for openness. All in all though, I'm happy to see this.

right, freedom of speech is free as long as it agrees with the viewpoint of who's in power. similar to how history is written by victors but this part is conveniently ignored. it's just facts in the open marketplace of ideas yay!

Re: Harvard's response to federal government letter demanding changes

#362

Post by bloppe »

Always42 wrote: post #302
kweingar wrote: post #224

The aggregate demands of the administration are confusing and contradictory. They seem to be simultaneously asking for: - an end to diversity initiatives - a new diversity initiative for diverse points of view - a new policy of not admitting international students with certain points of view - ending speech-control policies - auditing the speech of certain departments and programs - ending discipline of students who…

[flagged]

There are 2 issues here. The first is that it's not consistent with ending speech control policies.

The second is that hostility to American values is actually pretty subjective. For instance, the January 6 insurrectionists were very hostile to American values and used violent terroristic tactics to try to destroy the constitutionally mandated transfer of power. But Trump pardoned them all because it improves his ability to wield violence against America in the future.

It's impossible to take any of this document seriously in that light.

Re: Harvard's response to federal government letter demanding changes

#363

Post by tmpz22 »

allturtles wrote: post #340
jiriknesl wrote: post #285

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The demands are simple and not confusing at all. - Stop promoting Democrats' agendas as the ultimate truth; stop bullying people for non-Democratic views - Allow Republicans' agendas to be equally represented Is it really so difficult to understand? Out of many bad things Trump has done, this isn't really bad for anyone except core Democrats voters. The US academia has become hostile to anyone except one particular c…

Conservatives should start their own universities, if they aren't happy with the existing ones. The federal government has no business enforcing conformity to certain ideological demands in private institutions. It's right there in the very first amendment.

> Conservatives should start their own universities

They did. Remember Trump University? It got shut down for fraud.

Re: Harvard's response to federal government letter demanding changes

#365

Post by breadwinner »

settrans wrote: post #338
churchill wrote: post #287

Earlier quoted context omitted.

[flagged]

1. OK, great: this is a legitimate argument against the existence of Israel. So we can then expect Israel to be the focus of 0.5% of anti-nationalist protests, since it is one of ~200 countries. 2. What is the "correct" number of fatalities when fighting a defensive war against an enemy committed to annihilating your country? And besides, even Hamas now admits that 72% of combat-aged fatalities they have recorded wer…

The correct number of non-Hamas fatalities is 0.

Re: Harvard's response to federal government letter demanding changes

#366

Post by shadowgovt »

squigz wrote: post #275
areoform wrote: post #26

If you've read history, this rhymes with certain acts that have happened before under certain regimes. Under a non-authoritarian Government, this type of showboating can be dismissed, but when habeas corpus and the right to due process is suspended — such actions take on a very different cast indeed. It's good that Harvard is fighting this. The more people accede, the more they will accelerate down a path where there…

> the more they will accelerate down a path where there is no coming back from. Why do you say this? At practically every point in history where a government or dictator goes too far, we've come back from it.

Sure... As a different government.

I assume parent is talking about the functional end of this iteration of the United States as a political entity.

Re: Harvard's response to federal government letter demanding changes

#367

Post by paulpauper »

bretpiatt wrote: post #32

With their endowment above $50 billion, combined with Federal plus Non-Federal sponsored revenue at 16% of operating budget, it makes sense to me they just forgo Federal funds and operate independently. If all 16% is canceled, then they'd need to draw an additional $1 billion per year from endowment at current budget levels. That would put them above 7% draw so potentially unsustainable for perpetuity, historically t…

80% of the endowment funds are heavily restricted as per donor requests and cannot be used unconditionally.

Re: Harvard's response to federal government letter demanding changes

#368

Post by allturtles »

Always42 wrote: post #302
kweingar wrote: post #224

The aggregate demands of the administration are confusing and contradictory. They seem to be simultaneously asking for: - an end to diversity initiatives - a new diversity initiative for diverse points of view - a new policy of not admitting international students with certain points of view - ending speech-control policies - auditing the speech of certain departments and programs - ending discipline of students who…

[flagged]

> Do you think Harvard should admit students that are, "hostile to the American values and institutions inscribed in the U.S. Constitution and Declaration of Independence

Sure, why not? Everything should be open to criticism at our institutions of higher learning. If not there, where? That which is above criticism is dogma.

> including students supportive of terrorism and anti-Semitism

In Trump administration code, this means "has ever said anything positive about the Palestinian people." So yes, them too.

Re: Harvard's response to federal government letter demanding changes

#369

Post by janalsncm »

bhouston wrote: post #210
greasegum wrote: post #76

It's just words, obviously contradicted by many of Harvard's recent actions, but all I can think is what a fucking lay-up. If only Columbia's administration had half a spine they would have responded similarly.

> all I can think is what a fucking lay-up I am nervous about the US right now. So many cases are going to end up at the Supreme Court that is controlled by conservatives. It may not be the lay-up you think it is. Also what happens if Trump just decides to ignore a court loss as he did with the recent deportation of Kilmar Garcia?

I don’t agree with Roberts but he isn’t a hack. For what it’s worth, he also went to Harvard.

Re: Harvard's response to federal government letter demanding changes

#370

Post by morkalork »

brendoelfrendo wrote: post #253
adamc wrote: post #128

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Although the president was caught on mic musing about deporting American citizens.

He didn't get caught doing anything; he said it, openly, during an interview: https://bsky.app/profile/atrupar.com/post/3lmrx6b2gxy2f

Yeah, this is not going to end well for all y'all:

https://bsky.app/profile/pbump.com/post/3lmryeyuj6s2v

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