As Trump Waits for Harvard’s Reply, Governing Boards Meet in Harvard Square

This article highlights a critical moment in the ongoing power struggle between the Trump administration and elite institutions like Harvard University. As the Trump administration issues a $9 billion ultimatum to Harvard, demanding drastic changes to its diversity, equity, and inclusion programs among other measures, the Harvard Corporation and Board of Overseers convene to discuss their response. The administration's demands appear designed not only to apply external pressure but also to reshape the very character of academic governance and free expression on campus. Notably, the meetings come just days after a wave of alumni mobilization, with thousands signing petitions urging the university to resist what they deem anti-democratic threats. The article delves into implications for academic freedom, the potential chilling effects of governmental pressure, and the larger battle concerning institutional autonomy in higher education under the current political climate. Given the historical weight of Harvard’s response to such pressures, the consequences of their decisions extend well beyond the university’s walls, resonating throughout academia and potentially influencing policy directions locally and nationally.