Washington, May 29, 2025: Harvard University is set to hold its annual commencement ceremony this Thursday amid ongoing legal challenges against punitive actions imposed by the Trump administration. These measures, which threaten Harvard's ability to recruit foreign students and receive federal funding, have cast a shadow over the celebrations.
President Donald Trump's administration has taken unprecedented steps against Harvard, including attempts to exclude it from the federal program that sponsors international students, revoking multimillion-dollar government grants, and questioning the university's tax-exempt status. Harvard is disputing all these actions in court.
The controversy stems from Harvard's resistance to government demands regarding recruitment policies, academic curriculum, and research priorities. The administration has accused Harvard of permitting anti-Semitism and exhibiting liberal bias on campus. President Trump stated, "Harvard is treating our country with great disrespect, and all they're doing is getting in deeper and deeper."
Alan Garber, Harvard's president, acknowledged challenges related to campus anti-Semitism and the difficulty of fostering a space where diverse viewpoints are safely expressed. Speaking to NPR, he criticized the administration's approach, noting that their measures do not effectively target those responsible for the purported issues.
During Class Day on Wednesday, basketball legend and human rights advocate Kareem Abdul-Jabbar commended Harvard's leadership for standing firm against what he described as "illegal and immoral pressures," likening their resistance to Rosa Parks’ historic stand during the Civil Rights movement.
Students, including Franco-American classics and linguistics major Madeleine Riskin-Kutz, expressed that continuing with celebratory graduation activities serves as a form of peaceful protest against the administration’s policies.
Legal Proceedings and Academic Resistance
President Garber has spearheaded Harvard's legal pushback after the Trump administration targeted elite institutions. Columbia University, facing similar pressures, conceded to some demands to regain federal funding worth hundreds of millions.
A federal judge in Boston, Allison Burroughs, temporarily halted the government's policy that would block Harvard from enrolling foreign students, who currently comprise approximately 27% of its student body. The judge is scheduled to hear further arguments on the matter this Thursday.
Outside Harvard Yard, retired immigration judge Patricia Sheppard protested the administration’s actions, highlighting concerns that the punitive measures may represent politically motivated retribution.
Preparations for the graduation proceeded with typical fanfare. The Harvard band paraded through Cambridge’s streets donning crimson blazers, while a stage and seating arrangement awaited the hundred of graduates and attendees in a secure grassy area. Students in traditional black gowns posed for photos with family under clear skies.
Despite the political tension, the university community appeared united in commemorating the achievements of the Class of 2025, with many viewing the ceremony as a symbol of resilience and academic freedom.
