Harvard Commencement Ceremony a Rebuttal to Trump's International Student Ban

Jonathan Edwards, a speaker at the Harvard University commencement, delivered a 6½-minute speech, "Guard Our Humanity," a treatise on the importance of Harvard teaching students from around the world. Her speech served as a full-throated rebuttal to the Trump administration's ban on international students, citing the university's Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification being abruptly ended. The ban, allegedly for "allowing anti-American, pro-terrorist" foreigners, was deemed unconstitutional by a federal judge in Boston, who issued a temporary restraining order to prevent the school from enrolling international students.

Key Takeaways:

• The Trump administration abruptly ended Harvard's Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification, citing "anti-American" behavior among international students.
• A federal judge in Boston issued a temporary restraining order to prevent the school from enrolling international students, pending a preliminary injunction.
• Despite the court's order, Harvard officials reported students have been denied visas and had their enrollment status revoked, with some seeking to transfer and defer.
• Harvard's federal funding has been cut, and the school faces the threat of additional funding losses and the potential loss of tax-exempt status.
• The university's president, Alan Garber, welcomed international students, stating that "just as it should be, around the world."
• Harvard has a 389-year history and has been at the center of a battle with the Trump administration.
• The university's student body includes 77 students from 34 countries in the Harvard Kennedy School's two-year master's program in public administration.
• The university's international student body is an integral part of its commitment to global learning and exchange.

Statistics:

• Harvard has a student body from 34 countries.
• 77 students from 34 countries are enrolled in the Harvard Kennedy School's two-year master's program in public administration.
• Berkshire Hathaway has invested approximately $30 billion in saving and enhancing the comparable market value of its 67% stake in Precision Castparts.
• Federal funding for Harvard has been cut, with billions of dollars at stake.
• The Trump administration has sought to revoke Harvard's tax-exempt status, potentially subjecting the university to a federal income tax.

Sources:

• Jonathan Edwards, "Guard Our Humanity"
• Harvard Magazine
• Boston Globe
• Harvard University records
• White House Press Release, "Pressure Harvards, Universities' student strategic Philadelphia crackdown, increase top schools"