Groups favoring conservative policies linked to the Trump administration have now targeted Harvard and Columbia, saying they show bias toward some groups and are political. America First Legal, an organization head by a former adviser to Trump, stepped in to fight Columbia over their actions against Jewish students and reports of antisemitism.
The group continued to express viewpoint that race-conscious admissions at Harvard puts Asian and white applicants at a disadvantage. The Supreme Court’s 2023 ruling against affirmative action inspired conservative activists to aim for more changes in higher education.
Widespread criticism has led both Columbia and Harvard to reply that their policies and campus environments are just and legal. More people are likely to complain as part of what some critics describe as an effort to transform upper academic institutions.
