Is Harvard still committed to Veritas?

As Harvard students and faculty defend its school against Trump's efforts to eliminate

antisemitism on its hallowed campus, one truth is inescapable-They brought it upon themselves.

By Greg Rabidoux

Like trying to decide whether to toast my Pop-Tart first or just eat it raw, I am torn.

On the one side, I am deeply committed to freedom of expression and academic freedom. Intellectual curiosity, questioning the orthodoxy in every field of inquiry is critical. Too much oversight from anyone or anything, be it college administrators or government and learning turns into a process of indoctrination. Prose becomes propaganda.

On the other side, for curiosity, learning, and growth to occur, at a college or university our campuses must be free of intimidation, coercion, retaliation, and of course, violence of any kind. And Harvard has been one of the biggest violators of betraying this sacred trust of learning for decades now. Along with Columbia University, both have had its hand out for so long, saying yes to every wealthy extremist, radicalistic, anti-American donor there is, they forgot that it's okay to say no and stay true to your core mission and why you got a tax-exempt status in the first place. Which is a privilege not a right by the way. Harvard and its faculty got into the business of training radicalized activists because it seems that's who was paying the bill.

In short, the temptation of treasure proved far too powerful. Harvard's endowment grew to its present-day haul of $55 billion, while Columbia U reached its own dizzying height at $45 billion. And that doesn't include the hundreds of millions more from taxpayer funds. And while campus extremism spread like a cancer, while intimidation, coercion and violence took over, while Jewish students were targeted, where were Harvard's "best and brightest?" Where were the well-heeled leaders of tomorrow protecting truth and its most vulnerable?

In short, whether you think the Trump Administration's actions of asset-freezing, foreign student visa revocation, and proposed rescinding of Harvard's tax-exempt status is an over-reach or not, Harvard brought this war upon itself, even arrogantly invited it. Nearly 30% of Harvard is now comprised of foreign students. And while all don't, far too many come with nothing more than a manifesto of hatred and violence to tear down America while exploiting our nation's commitment to freedom of speech and expression to advance their own malicious, antisemitic, and destructive agenda.

Ending Harvard's tax-exempt, non-profit status may indeed be a punishment exceeding the crime. Harvard points to steps it has taken recently to make its campus not be a hot bed for radicalism and hatred. But honestly, in many ways, Harvard stopped being a non-profit long ago. Harvard has arguably, become a soulless, corporate behemoth where profit and self-preservation not veritas and student growth reign supreme. But hey, for $85,000 annual tuition who else can afford it but radical, well-financed foreign extremists?

If you are really committed to Veritas (Truth) than you must start with an honest appraisal of yourself. And Harvard has a long way to go because of a path it chose to take a long time ago.

By Greg Rabidoux, an award-winning filmmaker, screenwriter, and author. And someone who never attended Harvard but is deeply committed to education and learning.