Harvard University has long styled itself as the gold standard of American higher education, but lately, that polish has dulled.
After years of campus unrest, questionable partnerships, and failure to protect its students, the federal government finally said, enough.
This administration is holding Harvard accountable for fostering violence, antisemitism, and coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party on its campus.
It is a privilege, not a right, for universities to enroll foreign students and benefit from their higher tuition payments to… pic.twitter.com/HrIXbLSMH7
— Secretary Kristi Noem (@Sec_Noem) June 1, 2025
In May, the Department of Homeland Security revoked Harvard’s certification to enroll international students through the Student and Exchange Visitor Program.
It wasn’t a small move. Losing SEVP status means losing access to foreign students and the premium tuition dollars they bring. It also sends a message: elite status does not equal a free pass.
Secretary Kristi Noem explained the decision as necessary to address serious concerns. Those include antisemitic harassment, coordination with entities tied to the Chinese Communist Party, and a general breakdown in campus safety.
Critics may scoff, but for many Americans, this looks like long-overdue accountability. For years, conservative observers have warned that institutions like Harvard are drifting from their core purpose.
Instead of educating young minds in liberty and responsibility, the campus seems more focused on promoting ideological orthodoxy. Free thought depends on which ideas you express.
The antisemitism issue, in particular, cuts deep. Following the Hamas attack on Israel last October, antisemitic incidents surged nationwide, including at Harvard.
Jewish students reported threats, harassment, and an administration slow to act. An independent task force backed up those claims, documenting a hostile environment many had been warning about for years.
Then there’s the foreign entanglement problem. Harvard has accepted large donations and research partnerships from regimes like China and Iran.
These aren’t just cultural exchanges. We’re talking about sensitive fields like AI, defense, and biotech.
At some point, national security has to matter more than fundraising.
That brings us to the Trump administration’s role. Yes, it’s a bold policy shift, but one grounded in principle.
If universities want taxpayer support and the privilege of enrolling international students, they must meet certain standards.
Safety. Transparency. A basic respect for American values.
Harvard isn’t going quietly. The university sued, arguing that the government violated its rights and skipped key procedures. A federal judge agreed to temporarily block the decision while the case plays out. So for now, Harvard’s foreign student pipeline remains open.
Still, the message has been sent. Prestige is no shield. Not when you tolerate harassment or cozy up to foreign powers.
Whether or not the courts side with the administration, the spotlight is now firmly on how our top universities operate.
This is, at its heart, about reclaiming higher education from the grip of radical ideologies.
It’s about ensuring that our best-known institutions don’t forget the country that made their success possible.
If nothing else, it might prompt a few ivory tower types to think twice before writing off middle America as unenlightened.
This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
