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Department of Justice Probes Harvard’s Financial Aid Programs Over Alleged China Ties – News – The Harvard Crimson
Department of Justice Probes Harvard’s Financial Aid Programs Over Alleged China Ties
The Department of Justice building in autumn in Washington, D.C. | By Mae T. Weir
By Hugo C. Chiasson and Elise A. Spenner, Crimson Staff Writers
20 hours ago, Updated July 20, 2026, at 7:58 p.m.
The Department of Justice opened an investigation Monday into whether Harvard violated federal civil rights law by using gifts from China-based sources to fund financial aid programs that favor foreign students.
The department’s Civil Rights Division said it began the compliance review after auditing Harvard’s foreign-funding disclosures, which show that the University has received more than $630 million from sources based in China. The department also said it found evidence that some gifts and contracts require Harvard to establish or support financial aid programs “with preference given to students from particular countries.”
Harmeet K. Dhillon, the assistant attorney general for the division, wrote in a notice letter to Harvard that the University “appears to be accepting these funds with restrictions and conditions from China-based sources and then providing this student financial aid with preference to foreign students based on their national origin, presumably Chinese.”
“These disclosures indicate that Harvard may be violating Title VI by providing financial aid to students on the basis of their national origin,” Dhillon wrote.
The division said it has not reached any conclusions about whether Harvard violated federal law. It directed Harvard to turn over documents related to what it called “Chinese Restricted Funds,” as well as student-level information about recipients of the financial aid programs.
University spokesperson Jason A. Newton defended the University’s foreign ties in a statement, saying Harvard follows disclosure laws and “does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, or national origin in allocating financial aid.”
“We are reviewing the Department of Justice’s latest letter to Harvard and will engage with the government regarding these issues,” he added.
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The investigation opens a new playing field in the Trump administration’s yearlong pressure campaign and indicates the government is seeking novel ways to cripple Harvard for refusing to comply with White House demands.
The Justice Department is currently litigating two other lawsuits against Harvard — one alleging that the University failed to turn over admissions records in a timely manner and another accusing Harvard of violating civil rights law in its response to campus antisemitism.
Both the University’s funding — nearly $3 billion in federal grants — and its ability to enroll international students also sit in legal limbo pending appeal.
Harvard’s ties to China have been a frequent target of the administration and its allies in Congress.
When President Donald Trump barred international students at Harvard from entering the U.S. last June, he cited the University’s financial entanglements in China as evidence. (Harvard successfully blocked the order in court.)
The Education Department said last April that Harvard had failed to accurately disclose its sources of foreign funding and demanded records concerning the University’s foreign financial ties.
House Republicans launched a separate probe into Harvard’s dealings with China last May, accusing the University of “hosting and training a CCP paramilitary organization” in a 14-page letter to Harvard President Alan M. Garber ’76.
The letter, sent by Republicans on the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, threatened the University’s tax-exempt status if lawmakers found that Harvard had failed to properly disclose its partnerships with Chinese-based entities.
The committee had separately investigated an April 2024 anti-CCP protest during which a student was filmed dragging a protester. The committee criticized Harvard for not disciplining the student even as three other students faced probation for interrupting a CCP official.
But Harvard has made a point to continue engaging in Asia even as Washington ratchets up its scrutiny.
Harvard College Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid William R. Fitzsimmons ’67 courted alumni during two visits to Hong Kong this spring, placing particular emphasis on securing financial aid donations.
Other Harvard administrators have visited the region in recent months, including Faculty of Arts and Sciences Dean Hopi E. Hoekstra, who met with alumni in Singapore in January.
Continue/Read Original Article: Department of Justice Probes Harvard’s Financial Aid Programs Over Alleged China Ties | News | The Harvard Crimson
Did Viking 1 find life on Mars 50 years ago? Here’s why the debate continues – Space
Did Viking 1 find life on Mars 50 years ago? Here’s why the debate continues
Published yesterday
“Viking more likely than not found autotrophic microbial life on Mars, roughly 1,000 cells per gram.”
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In looking back and commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Viking missions to Mars, one is struck by the bold and audacious undertaking.
Twin spacecraft missions — each consisting of a lander and an orbiter — made their way to Mars and into the history books. The Viking 1 lander planted its legs on the terrain of Chryse Planitia 50 years ago today, on July 20, 1976, while its Viking 2 counterpart touched down at Utopia Planitia on Sept. 3 of that year.
Among their duties, the dual landers scooped up the first soil samples of Mars and deposited those precious collectibles into onboard, specialized equipment. Viking scientists had designed that gear to help answer an intriguing question: Is there life on Mars?
One of Viking’s instruments was a GCMS, a combination of a gas chromatograph (GC) and a mass spectrometer (MS). A positive GCMS detection could confirm the possibility that organics needed for the origin of life as we know it were present.
After interpreting all the data and information gleaned from ingested Martian soil, most scientists at the time concluded that Viking relayed a “no life on Mars” result. You may like
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But is it possible that the two robots actually radioed back a very clear comeback: “Can you repeat the question?”
Different techniques
Ben Clark was a member of the Viking science team, and the instrument he designed made the first-ever measurements of the chemical composition of Mars soil. He is now a senior research scientist at the Space Science Institute in Boulder, Colorado.
“There were three life-detection experiments, each using different techniques to probe whether they could stimulate biological activity in the soil by adding various selected nutrients,” Clark told Space.com. “Two were generally negative in their findings, but a third experiment had an expected strong response when it added nutrient.”
Indeed, astrobiologist/inventor Gilbert Levin remained convinced that his Viking microbial detection instrument, called the Labeled Release experiment, did find living microorganisms in the soil of Mars. He held tight to that view until he passed in July 2021 at the age of 97.
Skeptical scientists
Clark recalled that many members of the scientific community were skeptical when geochemists pointed out that certain minerals can cause a similar response.
Source: Did Viking 1 find life on Mars 50 years ago? Here’s why the debate continues | Space
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CFP: EBSCO User Group (Phoenix, Arizona May 25-27, 2027)
Where Your Ideas ShineBuilding a brighter library communitySheraton Grand at Wild Horse Pass Phoenix, AZ May 25-27Discover how academic libraries across North America are solving challenges, exploring new technologies and supporting their communities through peer-led sessions, networking opportunities and conversations with EBSCO experts.CFP URL: https://ebscousergroup.org/submit-a-session/Before You SubmitPlease review the information below before submitting your proposal. Then, click the button at the bottom to enter the submission portal.Proposal Deadline: October 30.Who should submit?We welcome proposals from academic librarians and library staff who are using EBSCO products, services or content to support teaching, learning and research at their institutions. You do not need to have a large-scale project, polished case study or formal presentation background to submit. Some of the most valuable User Group sessions come from practical, everyday work: solving a workflow challenge, improving discovery, promoting a database, evaluating usage, supporting faculty, testing a new approach or learning from something that did not go exactly as planned. We encourage proposals from a range of library roles, including subject librarians, systems and electronic resources librarians, collection development teams, instruction and outreach librarians, administrators and anyone involved in connecting users with library resources.Session FormatsSessions are held in one of three formats:Standard Presentation – 40-minute presentation + 10-minute Q&A (1-2 speakers)Panel Presentation – 40-minute presentation or discussion + 10-minute Q&A (3-4 speakers)Innovation Session – 10-minute presentation + open Q&A, lightning round formatSession PathwaysTo help you shape your proposal, we invite submissions in the following session pathways. These are not formal agenda tracks, and proposals may fit more than one area. Research Journey and User ExperienceThis area focuses on evaluating and improving user workflows through optimization and integration of tools and services. It includes:Improving the research experienceConfiguring discovery toolsIntegrating new tools into existing servicesReducing friction in access or authenticationUnderstanding user behaviorApplying usability findingsCollections, Content and Database StrategyThis area focuses on identifying, analyzing, and sharing use cases around library content and collection development. It includes:Database evaluationSubject-specific resource use casesCollection development strategyFaculty engagementContent gaps and emerging needsManaging renewals, cancellations or budget pressureConnecting users with high-value contentAI, Innovation and Emerging TechnologyThis area focuses on use cases and expectations for newer and emerging technology. It includes:AI in library servicesLinked dataAutomationNew service modelsEmerging student or faculty expectationsResponsible technology adoptionPilots, experiments and lessons learnedImplementation, Migration and Change ManagementThis area focuses on practical tips and storytelling related to new product or service adoption and internal stakeholder input. It includes:Product migrations and new platform rolloutsInternal trainingStakeholder communicationLaunch planningTroubleshootingStaff adoptionLessons learned after go-liveAnalytics, Assessment and Demonstrating ValueThis area focuses on how libraries can demonstrate value through off-the-shelf reporting strategies or more creative approaches to analysis. It includes:Usage reportingAssessment strategyDashboardingROI and value conversationsStudent or faculty engagement metricsCommunicating impact to campus stakeholdersTeaching, Outreach and Campus EngagementThis area focuses on maximizing engagement with students, faculty, and other communities served by the library. It includes:Information literacyFaculty partnershipsStudent outreach effortsDatabase instructionSupporting specific disciplinesResearch consultationsBuilding awareness of tools or collectionsWhat makes a strong proposal?Strong proposals often focus on one or more of the following angles:A practical workflow others can adaptA challenge your team solved or is still working throughA decision-making process that helped your library move forwardA pilot, experiment or early lesson learnedA content, tool or service strategy that improved user engagementA collaboration between library teams, campus partners or vendorsA before-and-after look at a configuration, implementation or outreach effort Read original article: Read More
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To address the United States’ acute housing shortage, Congress recently passed a landmark piece of legislation designed to encourage the construction of new homes.
The problem is that President Trump’s crackdown on immigration has taken aim at the work force required to build those homes.
Ronda Kaysen, who covers housing for The New York Times, explains how the U.S. housing industry became so dependent on immigrant labor.
Guest: Ronda Kaysen, a real estate reporter for The New York Times who covers the intersection of housing and society.
Background reading:
Where did all the American-born roofers go?
Here’s what is in the housing bill that just became law.
Photo: Philip Cheung for The New York Times
For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.
Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher. For more podcasts and narrated articles, download The New York Times app at nytimes.com/app. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising. Read original article: Read More
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The Source with Kaitlan Collins
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7 Summer Book Bingo Recommendations
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