Harvard University rejects Trump admin's demands, risking billions in funding

Grants should be given based on how important that research is.

That's how it works. That is the fair and balanced way it works. Endowments are not used for research grants unless specifically donated for that purpose.

This discussion is irrelevant and stupid, almost as stupid as discussing false and misleading garbage that you copied off another social media site.

 

As usual, you missed the point.
Harvard has all the required funds to conduct any research they need and more.
What is your problem with allocating the government (tax money) toward more needy public Universities? It's fair to ask such questions and debate.

If Government provides funding to an institution, the government has the right to audit that institution. I don't know what level of autonomy or compliance and accountability is expected.

 

You ignored the point, as usual.

 

Where? I saw no mention of them reallocating funds to other schools.

 

"They"? You want to discuss grant funding while ignoring the fact that research benefits, you know, the public? People? Country? Mankind?

 

Bised as usual.

Foreign funding such as Qatar's millions, on university discourse and policy remain subjects of public and governmental interest

 

I strongly promote research, more power to it, you are trying to distort as usually what my intent is.,
Harvard has all the funds they need for research and more.
But allocating more to Public Universities will benefit our country even more.

 

My wife briefly worked in grants compliance. It's a whole field, with detailed processes and even a professional certification. Accountability requirements are extensive. None of these requires a university to give up its mission by relinquishing academic freedom. We don't want that.
Also, are you inching towards acknowledging that the goal here is to assert control on universities, not "antisemitism"? That these Jewish students, their families, Jewish activists, and you are patsies, "human shield"?

 

I only made a suggestion, a discussion point, and I think it's a good one. Harvard has more than needed, they can fund any research and more.

 

So it isnt happening. You are in support of an defunding of universities because of the possibility of redistributing funds, which hasnt been proposed. Gotcha.

 

First of all, nope. Allocating more to whatever institution is in position to advance science is usually the goal. You know what's hilarious? This is a conservative argument, "merit-based". MAGAs here argue for political criteria to be used in research funding - precisely what they hated about "woke" priorities.
Second of all, you can't with a straight face tell me you believe the widthrawn funds are to go to public universities. Why would you even assume this? What in the last decades of GOPnik policy-making made you think that there's a snowball's chance in H E Doulde Hockey Sticks those money would go to research at public universities? You're trying to pull a fast one here and you know it.

 

Yeah, you should try to get yourself elected to office with these ideas. Because the current administration is not doing any of that.
Also, hey Lerner? This happens to be a Progressive idea. Worthy of Bernie Sanders. Funny how all of your ideas are way left of the people you for some reason decided to defend.

 

These are two different issues. The civil right issues have merit on its own.

 

No desire to get in to politics. But I would like to see better funding of Public schools and universities.

 

Yes. Like due process for immigrants. Whatever merit your pet civil rights issues may or may not have is completely irrelevant: the war on universities is not about these. So why are you discussing these in this topic? Simple: you are being played.

 

Me too. Vote Blue to get at least some of that. GOPs are downright hostile to public education.

 

The answer to your question has been given countless times. This is an irrelevant and nonsensical dream on your part. It's not how the world works.

Grants for research are for research. It doesn't make sense to say that because a grant for research is granted that the government has a right to audit an institution. The government only has a right to audit the research.

 

i jane,

You're missing the broader context.

No one is suggesting that individual research grants automatically give the government carte blanche to audit an entire university.
But when federal funding reaches billions and overlaps with growing concerns about discriminatory practices, antisemitism, or the use of public funds to support politically charged initiatives, it’s absolutely within the government’s scope to ask questions beyond the lab.

This isn’t just a “nonsensical dream” — it’s happening right now.
The current administration is auditing Harvard’s broader academic practices and has tied billions in research funding to compliance with broader conditions related to viewpoint diversity, campus conduct, and transparency. These are policy-level decisions, not just technical reviews of individual projects.

So yes, grants are for research — but when federal funding becomes systemic and sustained, it opens the door to accountability at the institutional level. That’s not fantasy. That’s policy — today.

 

In other words, this is an attack on academic freedom. Which you applaud. Thanks for the clarity. You're wrong here, along with Trump.

On the plus side, good job realizing this is not about "antisemitism". I would not want my community to be entangled with this foolishness.

 

But it is about civil rights. The rest is not in other words but your words.
You can try to distort as many times as you wish. I expected this type of your post.