Trump’s orders on varsities causing disruption

THE Trump administration’s missive on halting the scheduling of new visa interviews for foreign students hoping to study in the US adds to the climate of uncertainty for the aspirants, their families and even the host campuses. It marks a significant expansion of the previous efforts to tighten immigration controls and impose restrictions on international students. The proposed social media vetting of visa seekers follows a crackdown aimed at sending back students who may have participated in protests against Israel’s actions in Gaza. A variety of rules have also been invoked to cancel certifications and freeze funding of US universities, especially elite ones such as Harvard, that the administration believes are too liberal and accuses of allowing anti-Semitism to flourish. For the higher education community, the frustration is palpable.

India is one of the largest sources of international students in the US, and is particularly affected by the disruption. The American dream may not be crumbling, but it is certainly forcing many prospective students to rethink their study and research plans. Ideally, such a situation should present an opportunity to retain the extraordinary Indian talent. That, however, is wishful thinking and a reality check that the policymakers should not lose sight of.

Several universities in the US are not merely sites of great learning; they are torchbearers of the ideals of free speech and thought. The vastness such spaces provide to human endeavours in practically every conceivable field have made these campuses beacons of inspiration to the global fraternity of students, researchers and dreamers. The new policy mandates are unsettling and disconcerting. How to negotiate this altered landscape is the test of the times. The audacity of hope is what holds these institutions together, and not letting go of hope is the best response.

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