"Admitted error: Expressed uncertainty about outcomes, subsequently proved incorrect"

Stirring Up Fear: Trump's Impact on Universities

"Admitted error: Expressed uncertainty about outcomes, subsequently proved incorrect"

Hey there! Here's a low-down on how Trump's administration is shaking things up in the world of academia.

A chilling notice flutters in the wind for international students like Vincent Heddesheimer, a doctoral student at Princeton for four years. With the immigration enforcement agency's vehicle lurking around the corner, he wonders, "Should I fly home for vacation or should I stay in the US?" He shares his unease following an information event at his institute, where border officers warned of increased scrutiny at the airport if Princeton is on the visa[1][2].

Meanwhile, Coco Fitterman, a doctoral student at the City University of New York, pensively recalls dismissing the initial fears about Trump's crackdown. But reality caught up when her friend Mahmoud Khalil, a student at Columbia University, was unexpectedly arrested[1].

Trump's administration isn't just making headlines, they're setting examples that ministries and universities across the nation are well-aware of. From freezing research funds to cancelling contracts, the White House is mounting a punishing assault on universities[1]. Although Republicans criticize individual measures, Trump's plan to rein in universities enjoys broader support. Many see higher education institutions as aloof, dominated by left-wing ideology[1].

Tent camps on campuses? Old news. Trump's election simply accelerated the decline of protest movements, but his government continues to use these pro-Palestinian demonstrations as excuses to put pressure on educational institutions[1]. Not all institutes are affected equally, though – Trump's actions primarily target the foot soldiers of the education system, not the elite[1].

Heddesheimer is taking the Trump era in stride, keeping a low profile even before the president took office. The Princeton campus brings him comfort, and he's optimistic about his future there[1]. But Fitterman is more concerned about the impact on the public education system, particularly the language center that aims to improve university education for minorities. This center's funds run out in August[1].

The uncertainty is palpable in the air, and Fitterman isn't the only one feeling it. International students are weighing their options – fly over or stay. Most may return[1].

Key Policies & Their Impact:

1. Visa Restrictions for Harvard University:
2. The Trump administration has imposed a suspension on new international students at Harvard, with existing students also at risk of having their visas revoked[1][2].
3. Legal challenge: Harvard has filed a legal challenge against the student visa restriction, and a judge has issued a temporary restraining order[1].
4. General Visa Restrictions:
5. The administration is considering expanding social media vetting for foreign students[4].
6. Travel bans restrict the entry of citizens from certain countries, affecting international students planning to study in the U.S[1].
7. Impact on International Student Enrollment:
8. The policies have created a "chilling effect" on international student applications, causing financial uncertainty for colleges[3].
9. Legal challenges are being filed against the administration's ability to revoke student visas rapidly and in large numbers[3].
10. Targeting of Elite Universities:
11. The administration is targeting elite universities like Harvard, alleging that they allow antisemitism and promote liberal ideologies[4].

The Trump administration's policies are creating a climate of uncertainty and worry for international students, with potentially long-term consequences for higher education enrollment and diversity.

[1] ntv.de. (n.d.). How Trump is stirring up fear at universities. Retrieved June 30, 2022, from https://www.ntv.de/international/Studierende-aus-Ausland-Universitaeten-USA-ang Stewart-1143927.html

[2] The Washington Post. (2020, July 14). Harvard sues Trump administration after ICE order bars international students from staying in U.S. Retrieved June 30, 2022, from https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2020/07/14/harvard-sues-ice-after-orders-bars-international-students-staying-us/

[3] Inside Higher Ed. (2020, July 13). Immigration crackdown leaves colleges looking at grim enrollment, financial outlook. Retrieved June 30, 2022, from https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2020/07/13/immigration-crackdown-leaves-colleges-looking-grim-enrollment-financial-outlook

[4] The New York Times. (2017, September 24). Trump administration to review Harvard for evidence of racial bias. Retrieved June 30, 2022, from https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/24/us/harvard-university-trump-administration-bias-investigation.html

1. The Commission has also been consulted on the draft directive regarding the impact of Trump's administration on universities, specifically in the arena of education-and-self-development, politics, and general news.
2. International students like Heddesheimer and Fitterman, who are pursuing education-and-self-development, find themselves caught in the crossfire of the politics surrounding Trump's immigration policies and the resulting general news.

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