More than 200 Harvard University students have signed an open letter calling on their institution to resist what they characterize as unreasonable federal demands, as the Trump administration claims progress toward reaching an agreement with the prestigious university.
"Harvard is not Harvard if it is ruled over by the Trump administration," the students declared in their letter addressed "to Harvard from its Students."
The student mobilization comes two weeks after President Donald Trump announced on social media that Harvard had resumed negotiations with his administration. While Trump characterized the potential agreement as "historic," university officials have not confirmed the proximity of any deal, stating only that they have focused on communicating their existing efforts to address antisemitism and promote viewpoint diversity.
The letter reflects growing anxiety among students, faculty, and alumni about potential concessions university leadership might make to federal authorities. Students for Freedom specifically warned against sacrificing "this university's academic freedom, its institutional independence, nor its students' freedom of expression" in pursuit of an agreement.
The student organization outlined several red lines they believe the university should not cross, including banning curricular content, terminating faculty members, or disciplining students for peaceful expression. Perhaps most significantly, they urged Harvard not to share disciplinary records of international students, warning this could enable "ideological deportation."
"Doing so would set a dangerous precedent for the entire country," the students wrote. "We know Trump's strategy: give him an inch and he'll take a mile."
Jordan D. Schwartz, a member of the Class of 2027 and press chair for Harvard Students for Freedom, said that the letter represents a show of solidarity with university leadership during the sensitive negotiations.
"This is, first and foremost, a show of solidarity to show that students have their backs and students want them to keep fighting, just as they did for us in the spring," Schwartz said, referencing the university's handling of campus tensions during the academic year.
The group deliberately released their letter on Independence Day, viewing the timing as symbolically significant for their cause. Schwartz described Students for Freedom as "a large-tent opposition movement" designed to represent mainstream student opinion rather than fringe positions.
"I think this is, in our minds, a way to celebrate the Fourth of July, a way to celebrate what we do love about America, the fact that we can and should be able to exercise and enjoy our freedoms," Schwartz said.
The letter concludes with a defiant stance, asserting that "the law is on our side" and "the truth is on our side." The students expressed confidence that maintaining what they call "moral clarity" will ultimately vindicate their position.
The student letter emerges amid broader tensions between the federal government and higher education institutions, particularly regarding issues of campus expression, diversity initiatives, and international student policies. Harvard, like many elite universities, has found itself navigating complex political pressures while attempting to maintain its institutional autonomy.
The students' mobilization represents a notable example of campus organizing around issues of academic freedom and institutional independence, with potential implications for how universities nationwide approach similar federal negotiations.
