President Donald Trump introduced that he’ll give two school graduation speeches subsequent month as his administration continues to place strain on academic institutions nationwide.
According to the University of Alabama’s website, the school’s commencement festivities take place on the weekend of May 2-4. Meanwhile, West Point’s ceremonies are scheduled for May 27.
Trump announced the speeches at the same time it was reported that Harvard University has filed a lawsuit against the administration over the freezing of federal funds as a standoff continues over protests, deportations, and DEI practices.
A total of seven colleges have been threatened with funding freezes in current months.
Six of the seven universities impacted are Ivy League colleges.
Trump vowed to pursue these federal cuts on the marketing campaign path final 12 months, saying he would deal with colleges that push “essential race concept, transgender madness, and different inappropriate racial, sexual, or political content material.” Public faculty methods are additionally targets for cuts.
The administration introduced that its antisemitism activity drive would conduct a “complete evaluation ” of Harvard on March 31. The federal government was set to evaluation practically $9 billion of federal grants and contracts.
Harvard is among the many universities throughout the nation the place pro-Palestinian protests erupted on campus amid the struggle in Gaza final 12 months. Republican officers have since closely scrutinized these universities, and several other Ivy League presidents testified earlier than Congress to debate antisemitism allegations.
One other main challenge on school campuses is the threatened deportations and apprehension of students.
Last week, the ACLU filed a lawsuit on behalf of over 100 students regarding ICE activity on campuses.
“International students are a vital community in our state’s universities, and no administration should be allowed to circumvent the law to unilaterally strip students of status, disrupt their studies, and put them at risk of deportation,” said Gilles Bissonnette, legal director of the ACLU of New Hampshire.
At schools around the country, students have seen their visas revoked or their legal status terminated, typically with little notice.
About 1,100 students at more than 170 colleges, universities, and university systems have been affected since late March, according to an Associated Press review of university statements, correspondence with school officials, and court records.
Students have filed other lawsuits arguing they were denied due process. Federal judges have granted temporary restraining orders in New Hampshire, Wisconsin, and Montana, shielding students from efforts to remove them from the U.S.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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