Harvard University's commencement ceremony on Thursday, May 29, 2025, served as a platform for graduates and speakers to emphasize the importance of maintaining a diverse and international student body and upholding truth. This comes amidst significant threats from the Trump administration, including federal funding cuts, restrictions on international student enrollment, and demands for policy changes, partly in response to student protests over the war in Gaza. Harvard is actively challenging these demands through legal action.
Harvard graduates stress the importance of a diverse student body in the face of Trump threats
Donald TrumpAidan Robert ScullyAbraham VergheseUnited StatesSchoolsEducation fundingColleges and universitiesProtests and demonstrationsSocietyRosa ParksPoliticsKareem Abdul Jabbar2024-2025 Mideast WarsIsraelAlan Garber
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TL;DR: Key points with love ❤️Harvard University's commencement ceremony on Thursday, May 29, 2025, served as a platform for graduates and speakers to emphasize the importance of maintaining a diverse and international student body and upholding truth. This comes amidst significant threats from the Trump administration, including federal funding cuts, restrictions on international student enrollment, and demands for policy changes, partly in response to student protests over the war in Gaza. Harvard is actively challenging these demands through legal action.
Trending- 1 Students started college as the world was emerging from a pandemic.
- 2 Students later grappled with student-led protests over the war in Gaza.
- 3 The Trump administration began imposing threats, including canceling contracts and grants.
- 4 Visa interviews for international students were halted on Tuesday.
- 5 Trump stated on Wednesday that Harvard should reduce its international enrollment.
- 6 Harvard sued to block the funding freeze and halt the international student ban.
- 7 A judge extended the order blocking the ban during a hearing in Boston on Thursday.
- 8 Commencement was held on Thursday, May 29, 2025.
- Harvard faces significant financial penalties and restrictions on its operations.
- The situation has fueled a national debate on higher education and academic freedom.
- Students have grappled with campus protests related to the war in Gaza.
- The university is engaged in legal battles to defend its autonomy.
What: Harvard University's commencement ceremony highlighted the importance of diversity and truth in response to ongoing threats from the Trump administration.
When: The commencement was held on Thursday, May 29, 2025. Visa interviews for international students were halted on Tuesday, and Trump made a statement on Wednesday. A hearing in Boston was also held on Thursday.
Where: Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States (Harvard University).
Why: The Trump administration cites campus protests against Israel as 'antisemitic activism' and seeks to limit it, while Harvard views these actions as an infringement on academic freedom. The administration also aims to reduce international enrollment and impose other institutional changes.
How: The Trump administration has canceled contracts, cut federal research grants, moved to cut off Harvard’s enrollment of international students, and threatened its tax-exempt status. Harvard has responded by suing to block the funding freeze and successfully persuaded a federal judge to temporarily halt the ban on enrolling international students.