Trump Seeks Extensive Student Data in Pressure Campaign to Control Harvard

The New York Times ^ | May 23, 2025, 9:05 p.m. ET | Michael C. Bender

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Harvard and the federal government are locked in a battle that boils down to turning over records on international students. But Harvard says it is also about the First Amendment.

The latest confrontation between Harvard University and the Trump administration began last month with a far-reaching demand for data on international students.

Kristi Noem, the secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, sent a letter to Harvard requesting, among other things, coursework for every international student and information on any student visa holder involved in misconduct or illegal activity.

Harvard rebuffed parts of the request, and the Trump administration retaliated on Thursday. In one of its most aggressive moves so far against the university, the government said Harvard could no longer enroll any international students, who account for about one-fourth of its total enrollment.

It also expanded its request for records to include any videos of international students, on campus or off, involved in protests or illegal or dangerous activity.

The conflict has only further raised the stakes over the future of America’s oldest and most powerful university.

The administration’s attempt to vacuum up vast amounts of private student data opens a new front in Mr. Trump’s crackdown on dissent from his political agenda. The strategy is aimed at realigning a higher education system the president sees as hostile to conservatives by stamping out what it says is antisemitism on campus and the transgender and diversity policies it says are rooted in “woke” ideology.

Harvard counters that it has provided all the data that is legally required and that the administration’s unrelenting pressure campaign — including the termination of billions in federal research grants — amounts to an attempted takeover of the institution, bullying the university into changing what it can teach and whom it can hire.

Harvard said the government’s latest...

[Brian Griffin]

There is no constitutional right to instill Kristalnacht level hatred.

[Brian Griffin]

“If you want money for people with minds that hate, all I can tell you is brother you have to wait”

John Lennon

[lightman]

Imagine that!

[Brian Griffin]

“We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility...do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”

https://constitution.congress.gov/constitution/preamble/

[Jeff Chandler]

I remember The New York Times.

[TigersEye]

So do I.

[grumpygresh]

There’s no constitutional right to harbor CCP spies. Get Chinese spy-students out now. Defund, investigate and prosecute all institutions that are working with the enemy.

[lastchance]

I am not sure why the government needs the coursework of international students. I think it would be a given that those involved in disturbances and acts of mayhem would be brought to the attention of the proper authorities to review their temporary status.

[rottweiller_inc]

Seems like the NYT is feeling some vicarious heat.

[dennisw]

Harvard must run an honest operation if it wants free Federal billions yearly. All while hoarding it 56 billion dollar endowment.
If Trump can get Harvard to comply, the others will cave in too.

[trebb]

It has already been settled that the First Amendment doesn’t mean someone can yell, “FIRE!”, in a crowded theater....

[magooey]

I am not sure why the government needs the coursework of international students.

These students may be helping today to develop the cutting edge technologies of the near future. Their educational backgrounds could be of supreme importance.

[13Sisters76]

I sincerely hope that Harvard alumni are watching this and start pulling back their endowments.

[Ex-Con777]

Yet Harvard is fine with expelling students who mispronoun someone.

EC

[Go_Raiders]

You can if there’s an actual fire...

[fortes fortuna juvat]

There’s no constitutional right to harbor CCP spies. Get Chinese spy-students out now. Defund, investigate and prosecute all institutions that are working with the enemy.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Perfectly stated and perfectly true. Get ‘em out of here, and the sooner the better. And do everything that is required to get all anti-American education institutions, specifically those in the Ivy League back under the control of “We The People”!

[fortes fortuna juvat]

I am not sure why the government needs the coursework of international students. I think it would be a given that those involved in disturbances and acts of mayhem would be brought to the attention of the proper authorities to review their temporary status.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
“I think it would be a given . . .” But of course you’re not sure of that either, or are you?

[fortes fortuna juvat]

These students may be helping today to develop the cutting edge technologies of the near future.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>.
But on the other hand they may be doing everything they can get away with to destroy our country. Wouldn’t bother you though would it?

[fortes fortuna juvat]

Yet Harvard is fine with expelling students who mispronoun someone.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Research needs to be done to assess and document the damage that’s been done around the world by some of the charlatans who have been educated at America’s top colleges and universities. And Harvard would appear to be the perfect place to begin that study.