Harvard University president Alan Garber acknowledged a lack of conservative voices on campus and a climate where some students and staff feel unable to express “unpopular” views.In an interview with NPR on Tuesday, Garber responded to recent moves by the Trump administration to freeze billions of dollars in federal funding for the Ivy League institution, citing anti-semitism and a lack of viewpoint diversity.“In my view, the federal government is saying that we need to address anti-semitism in particular, but it has raised other issues, and it includes claims that we lack viewpoint diversity,” Garber said.He also recognised problems around free expressions, “We think it’s a real problem if — particularly a research university’s — students don’t feel free to speak their minds, when faculty feel that they have to think twice before they talk about the subjects that they’re teaching.”The president of the IVY league further went on to say that it’s concerning when people have views that they think are unpopular. “And the administration and others have said conservatives are too few on campus and their views are not welcome. In so far as that’s true, that’s a problem we really need to address,” the New York Post quoted.Upon being asked if the unpopular opinion issue was true, he responded being heard from some people that they do feel that way.Garber also pushed back against Trump’s intensifying attacks on Harvard, describing the US president’s campaign as “perplexing.”On Monday, Trump said he was considering redirecting $3 billion in federal grants away from what he called the “very anti-semitic” university, aiming instead to invest the funds in trade schools. The following day, the White House signalled plans to cancel all remaining federal contracts with the institution.So far, around $3.2 billion in grants and contracts have been frozen, with the administration accusing Harvard of failing to act against anti-semitism and engaging in alleged race-based discrimination in admissions and hiring.Garber criticised the funding freeze, arguing it hurts not only Harvard but also national research efforts. “Why cut off research funding? Sure, it hurts Harvard, but it hurts the country because after all, the research funding is not a gift,” he said, adding that the funding is provided to universities and other research institutions to do research work, which the federal government designates as high-priority work. “It is work that they want done. They are paying to have that work conducted.”“Shutting off that work does not help the country, even as it punishes Harvard, and it is hard to see the link between that and, say, anti-semitism,” he said.
