Judge Allison Burroughs, U.S. District Court of Massachusetts, wrote an 84-page brief reversing all of President Donald Trump’ s actions against Harvard University. You will remember that Trump froze over $2.8 billion in federal research grants because, he said, Harvard failed to address antisemitism on its campus. The judge asserts Trump’s reasoning was wrong — he cannot retaliate or punish an institution because he doesn’t like its politics. Furthermore his decision is arbitrary and there is no evidence for his claim. Jewish students, like Black and Latino, feel less satisfied with the climate at Harvard, when compared to white Christian and agnostic students. However, the real outliers are the Muslim and Arab students who experience gross marginalization.
Harvard, like all institutions, can do better. Now, it is more than likely that Trump will appeal the decision — it still isn’t clear which court will hear the case. It is commendable that Harvard did not cave-in, as did other colleges. But lawsuits are not enough. It remains for the rest of us in our small communities to stay organized and focus on protecting our democracy.
Lillian Cartwright
Easthampton