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Harvard's response to federal government letter demanding changes

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

#451

Post by insane_dreamer »

I think the only way for the universities to escape this blackmail trap is to bind together in their response, refuting the Trump's claims that they're not doing enough to "stop antisemitism" (obviously a cover chosen by the WH because it immediately gathers public sympathy), and reject Trump's demands. If they cave in now, it will be used against them again.

Take the haircut and wait for either the next presidential elections, or maybe midterms if the GOP gets pummeled because of this and starts standing up to Trump. One thing we've seen about Trump is that he fairly easily reverses course when the right pressure is applied.

Granted Harvard's in an easier place than most, but I predict Columbia will come to seriously regret their decision.

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

#452

Post by janalsncm »

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…

This might be true for Harvard, but I don’t think free speech should only be for those who can afford it. I know my school couldn’t if the government came knocking.

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

#453

Post by insane_dreamer »

TimorousBestie wrote: post #283
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…

It’s a good strategy. Even if Harvard had attempted to satisfy every bullet point, the govt could still retort that their demands were not satisfied.

Typical mafia technique ensuring perpetual extorsion.

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

#454

Post by Boldened15 »

colechristensen wrote: post #381
JumpCrisscross wrote: post #109

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> he could potentially pull a completely illegal fast one and freeze their accounts Harvard (and most institutions and powerful individuals) would be smart to maintain liquid assets and a bank account outside America’s control.

>a bank account outside America’s control There really isn't such a thing if you want to do business in America. If you're in the US and doing business with a bank, the courts can order that bank to do things or face isolation from the entire financial system.

Yeah I'm no expert in financial systems but since the money ultimately needs to be spent in the U.S. it doesn't seem that important whether the funds are frozen in the U.S. or locked away overseas and can't be transferred in for the next ~4 years.

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

#455

Post by insane_dreamer »

enaaem wrote: post #250
arp242 wrote: post #169

So first they demand "Merit-Based Hiring Reform" and "Merit-Based Admissions Reform", and then it continues to demand "Viewpoint Diversity in Admissions and Hiring". I can't even engage with these levels of cognitive dissonance. Or bad faith. Or whatever it is.

I have never been a "woke" person, but Trump really makes me doubt the meritocracy argument. If Trump was a black woman he would never get away with half the things he is doing now.

> If Trump was a black woman he would never get away with half the things he is doing now

If Trump were a black woman (or man), he would have never survived the release of the Hollywood Access tape and therefore would have never gotten elected.

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

#456

Post by JumpCrisscross »

derektank wrote: post #292
JumpCrisscross wrote: post #180

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> if these institutions hadn't spent decades burning their own credibility They burned their credibility among those with whom they never needed it in the first place. Harvard as a taxpayer-funded institution is oxymoronic. Return it to an elite institution that the President can commend in private and mock at a rally in rural Kentucky or whatnot.

>They burned their credibility among those with whom they never needed it in the first place. I think universities should probably be concerned with their credibility among democratically elected political representatives if they are going to be accepting public funds. If the university wants to forgo federal grants, then yes, they don't require any credibility with anyone but academia and their donors, and more powe…

> universities should probably be concerned with their credibility among democratically elected political representatives if they are going to be accepting public funds

Agree. I don’t think they should accept federal funds to the extent that they do. Maybe it’s time for elite institutions to get past the 70s camp era and start behaving (and wielding the power of) being elite.

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

#457

Post by beerandt »

forrestthewoods wrote: post #89
gruez wrote: post #54

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This article lists out why it's not good of an idea as you think. >Universities’ endowments are not as much help as their billion-dollar valuations would suggest. For a start, much of the money is reserved for a particular purpose, funding a specific professorship or research centre, say. Legal covenants often prevent it from being diverted for other purposes. In any case, the income from an endowment is typically us…

if a $50,000,000,000 endowment can not be used to smooth things over in times of need or turbulence then the endowment managers need to make changes. You can not possibly convince me that Harvard’s endowment doesn’t trivially have one year of liquidity in it. I’m sure it’s not structured to handle a 7% annual draw down for the next 30 years. But it’s got plenty of time to restructure if needed.

They made a big fuss a few years ago about what I read imo as over investing in foreign farm land, esp south America and Africa. Which seems to have completely flopped, if not yet realized.

At this point, you really do have to question whether each university hire was merit based or not, including the fund managers.

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

#458

Post by babypuncher »

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…

It makes sense when you realize that their true position is "free speech for me but not for thee". The contradictions are about censoring speech they disagree with and promoting speech they like.

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

#459

Post by Jsebast24 »

pbreit wrote: post #55

Good for Harvard. As idiotic as many of its policies are, this is clearly government infringement of freedom and speech.

That's right. Infringement of freedom and speech should be left in the hands of government funded institutions like Harvard.

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

#460

Post by JumpCrisscross »

ren_engineer wrote: post #304
esrauch wrote: post #219

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> wrong about amyloid plaques Sorry... you think that Trump is doing this because of suppression of dissent about amyloid plaques?

no, but there would be much more push back against this type of action if Harvard and other universities didn't alienate a large chunk of the population. Why should the taxpayers fund places that openly admit to decades of racial discrimination in admissions the institutions have already failed their intended purpose, as shown by the research fraud. Propping them up with tax dollars because of nostalgia over the name…

> there would be much more push back against this type of action if Harvard and other universities didn't alienate a large chunk of the population

Not in any meaningful way. And not in a way that would have mattered.

The elite universities got into this hole by trying to court pedestrian approval. Trump is at war with the professional managerial class, not the elites. Harvard’s brand remains unimpeached among the latter. Return to serving that group and ignore the broader population.

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