A financial storm is brewing at Harvard University, as reported by various sources, ignited by mounting pressure from the US government. The situation has escalated so significantly that the university is undertaking drastic measures to safeguard its academic future.
Among the most striking responses is the voluntary 25% salary reduction by the Harvard President, a testament to the severity of the budgetary constraints. Multiple special committees have been formed to explore strategies for sustaining vital research projects. The Harvard School of Public Health has initiated layoffs and reduced graduate student admissions. Further streamlining efforts include cutbacks on operational expenses like printing and catering services.
Adding to the gravity of the situation, other universities are expressing their concerns and solidarity. A statement released by Harvard suggests that even a successful resolution in any related legal battles may not fully restore the financial footing the institution once enjoyed.
The ongoing dispute has sown seeds of anxiety within Harvard’s international student population. Thousands of students face potential visa revocations, study interruptions, and the prospect of forced transfers or inability to return to the US after summer break.
The plight of international students from war-torn regions like Ukraine, Palestine, and Afghanistan is especially precarious. Losing their legal status could trigger deportation, compounded by the inability to safely return to their home countries.
Harvard’s international student body comprises approximately 6,800 individuals, representing 27% of the total student population, with a significant portion enrolled in graduate programs.
On May 22nd, the US government imposed a ban on Harvard recruiting international students, effectively revoking the university’s Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) certification.
Harvard swiftly filed a lawsuit against the US government contesting the ban on May 23rd.
Students interviewed expressed that were this ban to remain in effect, it would be a “devastating decision,” potentially eroding Harvard’s, and by extension America’s, international academic standing, and causing a negative ripple effect across the nation.
In a rather candid encounter at an airport, Yao Anna, daughter of Huawei founder Ren Zhengfei, was asked about the situation. Her casual response, “Good thing I graduated,” underscores the complex implications of the ongoing challenges.
Yao Anna, it should be remembered, was admitted to Harvard University’s undergraduate program in 2016 with a perfect ACT score, pursuing studies in computer science and statistics. She graduated in June 2020.
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