Images: Harvard Commemorates Graduation Amidst Trump Threats; Ongoing Legal Dispute with the President Persists
Thousands of Harvard University graduates, adorning crimson gowns and black caps, celebrated their achievements on Thursday. Simultaneously, a federal judge extended a temporary ban on President Donald Trump's initiative to bar the prestigious institution from admitting foreign students.
Harvard finds itself at the forefront of President Trump's confrontation with American elite universities, which he has accused of harboring leftist and anti-Semitic biases. Judge Allison Burroughs of Massachusetts, the state where Harvard is located, announced her intention to maintain the preliminary injunction against the foreign students' ban, having granted it last Friday following Harvard's appeal to the courts.
In the lawsuit, Harvard challenges the measure that the administration claims would combat anti-Semitism and overturn diversity, equality, and inclusion policies. The university was given 30 days to provide evidence demonstrating why it should not be prohibited from housing and enrolling foreign students, who make up approximately 27% of the student body this year.
During a hearing in Boston, Harvard lawyer Ian Gershengorn expressed concern over the anxiety international students are experiencing and the transfer of students to other universities. The Trump administration issued a notification to prevent Harvard from hosting foreign students before the hearing, initiating the legal process of disabling the university's ability to do so.
In her statement, Judge Burroughs mentioned the necessity to "provide certain protection to international students" while the Trump administration and Harvard prepare to present their arguments in court.
Despite the ongoing legal battle, Harvard President Alan Garber was applauded during the graduation ceremony when he addressed international students and their families, stating, "It's as it should be." Garber, however, did not explicitly reference the conflict with Trump during his speech.
Several students and graduates expressed feelings of vulnerability and unity in representing the university's commitment to truth, integrity, and inclusion. With Rita Moreno receiving an honorary title at the ceremony, members of the Harvard band marched through the university's streets, symbolizing the diverse student body.
Whether the Trump administration's initiative to limit foreign student enrollment at Harvard will ultimately arise is yet to be determined, but Harvard remains steadfast in its support for its international scholars and students amidst the ongoing legal battle.
The ongoing legal battle between Harvard University and the Trump administration, centered around foreign student enrollment, continues to unfold, with Judge Allison Burroughs extending a preliminary injunction against the foreign students' ban, citing the need "to provide certain protection to international students." Despite these developments, Harvard President Alan Garber, during the graduation ceremony, expressed support for the university's international scholars and students, stating, "It's as it should be."
