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The hallowed history of Harvard University

Why is one of the most prestigious universities in the world at odds with the Trump administration?

The hallowed history of Harvard University
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StarsInsider
06/06/2025 13:30 ‧ 2 weeks ago | StarsInsider

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Harvard University is one of the most prestigious institutions of higher education in the world. It's also one of the wealthiest, with an endowment of over US$50 billion. But Harvard's finances have become the latest target of the Trump administration. More than $2.2 billion in federal grants and contracts have been frozen by the US president in the wake of alleged antisemitism at the university. This follows Harvard's refusal to agree to the White House's sweeping list of demands, which included directions on how to govern, hire, and teach.

The funding freeze matters because 80% of Harvard's endowment is earmarked for financial aid, scholarships, faculty chairs, academic programs or other projects, according to the school. The remaining 20% is intended to sustain the institution for years to come and even then the university can only spend a small fraction each year. Harvard has since emerged as a symbol of resistance against the Trump administration and the row marks another episode in the long history of the university.

To learn more about Harvard and some of its defining moments, click through the gallery for an educative tour of the hallowed institution.

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