Harvard Alumnus Decries Assault on Research, Education, Justice

Guglielmo, a young Italian man who graduated in business administration at Harvard University three weeks ago, said Tuesday he and other students found the clash between the United States' oldest higher-education institution and President Donald Trump's administration devastating, CE Report quotes ANSA.

"The first word that comes to mind is 'dismay'," Guglielmo told a meeting in Rome on the 'Illiberal Turn in the USA' that also featured academics, diplomats and politicians.

"We felt like bargaining chips in a issue that is much bigger than us.

"The common factor was the attack on institutions, not only against Harvard but also against research, medicine, justice - the head of vaccines at the FDA has been fired, the governor of the central bank is under attack every day as are magistrates and the entire education system.

"Accused of anti-Semitism during the terrorist attacks of two years ago and of a lack of freedom of expression for those who are not left-wing, first it saw its research funds and tax breaks cancelled.

"Then the possibility of having international students, who pay higher fees and, therefore, are sources of income, was taken away.

"We international students are small pawns in a large conflict and this is a cause of discouragement for us, given the inability to do anything".