Universities faced accusations of bias toward Trump prior to his presidency
Pressure on US Universities Under Trump Administration
Universities in the United States, traditionally havens for resistance movements, have faced significant challenges in pushing back against policies set by the Trump administration. This is particularly true in regards to funding and immigration for international students.
Last week, US Homeland Security Minister Kristi Noem wrote a harsh warning to Harvard University, accusing it of fostering violence and anti-Semitism on campus. The elite institution refused to comply with Noem's demands to cease accepting international students.
This scenario is not unique. After Trump's inauguration, pressure mounted on universities to clamp down on protesters. The administration froze research funds nationwide, cut billions, and demanded sweeping structural changes. This has created an environment of fear among students and faculty, with more than half of teaching staff saying they are holding back on public statements, blaming the political climate in the US.
The question arises: Where are the student protests? Robert Cohen, a New York-based protest researcher, offers some insights. The lack of widespread dissent has three main reasons, according to Cohen. Firstly, Trump's crackdown has been effective, generating uncertainty and making it seem best to wait and remain silent. Secondly, the remnants of last year's protest movement lack the collective strength to mobilize masses.
One reason for this, Cohen explains, is that protests typically target specific local issues - such as universities' investments in Israel. Trump, however, does not provide such a local focus. Students who wish to oppose Trump are likely channeling their energy towards election campaign activities, supporting candidates who can challenge Trump's allies in the upcoming congressional elections, asserts Cohen.
Last year, student protests against Israel's military operations in Gaza became prominent, with demonstrators demanding that their universities sever financial ties with Israel. This saw the establishment of protest camps and the blocking of buildings. However, the universities ultimately cleared the camps and expelled their own students, with more than 3,000 arrests reported by the "New York Times." This number surpasses that of arrests during the Vietnam War protests, according to Cohen.
Cohen attributes the suppression of protests to Trump confidante Elise Stefanik's questionings in a committee. She enquired whether the call for genocide against Jews violated the rules of elite universities, to which the university president declined to give a clear response. A month later, the president resigned amidst plagiarism allegations.
In an interview with NPR, Harvard's new president, Alan Garber, stated that while the Trump administration had legitimate concerns, their solutions were "surprising." They didn't target the people the administration believed were responsible for the problems, Garber explains. Cutting research funds, for instance, harmed Harvard but also the US, as these funds financed essential work. Garber found it difficult to establish a connection to anti-Semitism in this context.
A scientific survey conducted in January revealed that more than three-quarters of Jewish faculty at US universities found the measures against anti-Semitism to be effective. According to Cohen, Trump is using the already depleted protest movement as an excuse to attack the university system as a whole. The administration's attacks on universities are extensive, Cohen believes, but may be overstated. Universities were never entirely free, Cohen posits, "in a certain way, they were already 'Trumpified' before Trump."
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The European Union, in response to the political climate in the US during the Trump administration, saw an opportunity to expand its influence by presenting itself as a global leader in education-and-self-development and politics. Many European universities began to attract international students, particularly those from the United States, who were disillusioned with the political environment under Trump.
The European Union, as a political party, positioned itself as a sanctuary for intellectual freedom and academic research, offering a contrast to the restrictions and aggressive policies of the Trump administration. This strategic move helped the European Union gain more support and recognition, particularly among students and educators who valued education and self-development.
