The University of Harvard received an increase in donations after the president of the school refused to comply with recent requests from the Trump administration.
On Tuesday, Harvard president Alan Garber sent an email to the school community concerning the government’s list of requests. The administration said it would reduce nearly $ 9 billion in Harvard funding and subsidies if the school did not comply with the changes in its leadership structure, its admissions and hiring.
Garber replied, claiming that requests violate the rights of the first Harvard amendment and exceed “the statutory limits of the government authority under title VI”.
“… He threatens our values as a private institution devoted to the pursuit, production and dissemination of knowledge,” read Garbder’s letter. “No government – whatever the ruling party – should dictate what private universities can teach, that they can admit and hire and what areas of study and research they can continue.”
After Garber’s letter was sent, the United States Ministry of Education announced that it would freeze $ 2.2 billion in multi -year subsidies and $ 60 million in multi -year contractual value.
Between the moment when the Garber Tuesday and 9 a.m. on Wednesday, Harvard received nearly 4,000 online gifts, totaling $ 1.14 million, Harvard Crimson reported on Friday. The Harvard College Fund received 47% of the money, while 14% went to the Garber without restriction fund. Almost 80% of gifts were less than $ 250.
The day before the Garber’s letter, Harvard received 37 donations, the Crimson reported. However, since Wednesday, the university has received an average of 88 donations online per hour.
Last year, the school lost a large amount of donations, including the Wexner Foundation, which drew $ 2 million from Harvard Kennedy school after what it called a “lamentable” response to the war in Israel.
The Crimson added that “although no high -level donor indicated that they planned to resume their donations, the push indicates that the donors of small dollars return to Harvard.”
