Academic backbone
It takes grit and courage to be a top academic institution, both in the core business and when it comes to defending principles and self-evident truths: "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness". Constitutional ideas that appear to be a tall order for little strong men in power in all too many places around the world today.
Harvard's justified stance represents a concrete step toward defending science, research, free inquiry, education, and intellectual growth. While some prestigious institutions have faltered, lacking the courage to take a similar position and thereby tarnishing their reputations, it's heartening that 150 academic institutions—including bastions of excellence like MIT—have rallied behind Harvard by issuing a joint statement of support.
The words from Harvard's leadership eloquently capture the universal principle of academic independence as a cornerstone of freedom and liberty:
"We stand for the truth that colleges and universities across the country can embrace and honor their legal obligations and best fulfill their essential role in society without improper government intrusion."
We're witnessing encouraging signs of a movement gaining momentum, rising inexorably like the tide. Yet a crucial question remains in a nation still bearing the scars of civil war: what level of confrontation might emerge between equally determined opposing forces?
This issue transcends partisan politics—it's not about opposing legitimate policies from either side of the political spectrum. Rather, it concerns the fundamental principles of rule of law, civil liberties, and democracy itself—that "most imperfect of regimes with the exception of all the others."
Harvard sues Trump administration over funding freeze - https://on.ft.com/4lFtgKr via @FT