At first, I was puzzled by the Trump administration’s attacks on universities, especially elites like Harvard and the University of Virginia.

I was worried too.

I do not want the government to take on higher education in a way that will limit access to a college education for those without the means to afford a college education without cost controls and financial aid.

Alas, I do not think our president considers the impact on the masses when he, as president, starts brawling.

Reducing or removing government support would result in higher tuition for individuals and people like me, whose part-time work supported her and her ability to afford a reasonable tuition rate throughout four years of college.

My fears for students today grew when one of the president’s first targets was Harvard, the unlikely canary in the cage or the first to feel the tip of the spear.

Strategically, it was a rational move to disrupt and/or discredit one of the top education institutions in the country if the goal was to challenge and change education in a way that begets more compliance with his goals and policies. Whatever they are.

But I do not know if that was a goal.

Dissing Harvard

The president started in early spring claiming Harvard allowed the publication of “anti-Semitic” material in the Harvard Law Review. He demanded immediate changes and threatened withdrawal of current federal funds and the institution’s tax-exempt status.

As Harvard quickly learned, the U.S. president can hurt a university that does not comply with his standards by withdrawing federal funding, which is considerable given the various avenues for colleges to receive money from the government.

Notably and not surprisingly, there are many research programs that would not only lose the money to complete the program, but any benefit from the money already spent without a conclusion.

At the time of this writing Harvard and the administration are in negotiations.

The president also took aim at the University of Virginia.

The Supreme Court relieved universities of the need to consider race in admission policies in 2023. It seems that some universities, in this example the University of Virginia, kept a so-called diversity policy in place, meaning race was a consideration in selecting students for admission, a policy with which the current administration disagreed.

On the first read of the government’s complaints, there is reason to assess the circumstances and investigate where appropriate.

However, the inquiry moved quickly. Conclusions were announced, and financial consequences were put in place almost immediately. As part of the negotiations, the president of the University of Virginia resigned.

Too quickly and too much arm twisting if not a gun to the head, I thought, but then I do not know the whole story.

Government has a role in all levels of education, especially when tax dollars are involved. Educational standards are set with the involvement of those with expertise in education.

But once the program is established, how often does the government step in without due process at a college level to threaten defunding because of articles in the college newspaper or the course work?

How often is the college threatened with immediate defunding for an allegation of discrimination by the student newspaper and without due process?

I do not think that happens.

Or, at least not until now.

The entire effort to punish top universities without due process puzzles me. I am trying to understand what is going on here to cause such disruption.

Other universities, especially their presidents, are scurrying around, gathering staff together to comply before they are forced to comply.

It seems as if part of the government’s strategy is to make an example of one to gain compliance with all universities as was done recently by law firms having or seeking government work.

All or any institutions are vulnerable to this strategy which can interrupt its autonomy and change it forever.

But why is it being done?

Power play

My first thought was that it was about power and the sovereign ability of the president to pick a fight. This president likes wielding power and fighting.

That, coupled with understanding that the president often seeks revenge when he believes he has been wronged, made me wonder if he was denied admission to Harvard or the University of Virginia.

A brief internet check tells me I am not the only one to wonder but not enough for me to spend more time on it than I did.

It is far more worrisome that our government would target institutions of higher learning for government control. It is especially concerning contemplating government control of curriculum as the possible agenda.

Higher education is powerful and influential in our or any society. Education is a power tool for and by the individual and is essential to maintaining our ability to question and have a country that is governed for and by the people.

We better keep a watch on this.