U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to cut financial support under the pretext of eradicating anti-Semitism on campus, initiating a "college crackdown," and major universities are reportedly discussing a joint response.
According to the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) on the 28th (local time), the presidents and high-ranking officials of about ten major private research universities, including the Ivy League, have been in close contact recently to discuss response strategies. They are said to be setting 'red lines' that universities should not cross in negotiations with the Trump administration and seeking joint response measures.
In particular, large law firms are taking cases where they succumbed to government pressure as a cautionary tale, intending to maintain independence through solidarity among universities. They are reported to be concerned that if any one university concedes to government demands, pressure will spread to other universities.
The Trump administration recently demanded the University of Harvard abolish its DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion) programs under the banner of eradicating anti-Semitism on campus and grant the government oversight over admissions policies and faculty hiring processes. Harvard has rejected this, seeing it as an infringement on academic freedom, and has since filed a lawsuit after the Trump administration warned of cutting billions in funding.