Assaults on Higher Education Undermine Everyone

Fast Summary:

• Funding Cuts: Billions of dollars in federal research funding,including grants from institutions like NIH,have been frozen as January in the U.S., impacting high-profile universities such as Harvard, Princeton, and Columbia.
• Policy Changes: The Department of Education is investigating 60 universities over allegations of antisemitism, using these inquiries to justify further funding cuts.
• Visa Crackdown: International students face threats of visa revocations and deportation for campus protests deemed hostile to government interests. Foreign-born academics like Kseniia Petrova have also faced legal issues under tightened regulations.
• Public Apathy: Surveys show significant public indifference or outright support for politically motivated cuts targeting universities hosting contentious programs or research topics (e.g., health disparities, LGBT studies).
• Economic Impact: Cuts threaten job losses and economic contributions from prominent academic institutions.Such as, Ohio State University generates $19 billion annually for its state economy while supporting over 117,000 jobs.