This UvA alumnus works at Harvard: “I worry about the future of the university”
Harvard has been entangled in a fierce battle with the Trump administration for months. UvA alumnus and theoretical physicist Evita Verheijden sees how the atmosphere during her postdoc changes at the American university. “I am really proud that Harvard has taken such a stand for science.”
The stress at Harvard peaked for UvA alumna Evita Verheijden at the end of May. During a toast with her international fellow postdocs at the end of a conference, the news broke: Trump had immediately suspended all visas for international students and staff at the university. Verheijden: “At that moment, we were in the country illegally. It was a very strange moment that should have been a celebration.”
The situation lasted 16 hours, after which a judge blocked the decision. However, the block was temporary and will remain in place until the final court case between Harvard and the US government takes place. This has made the situation uncertain for foreign students and employees in recent months, Verheijden said in an interview with Folia at the end of June.
A deal between Harvard and the US government could be reached at any moment. What is the atmosphere like there now?
“The atmosphere is calmer now. The academic year is coming to an end and many students have left the campus; mainly the researchers are still there. The worst stress has subsided, but the situation remains uncertain.”
Why did you want to go to Harvard for your postdoc in the first place?
“My position is shared between Harvard and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). For theoretical physics and the type of research I do, this is really the place to be. The United States has long been a beacon of science: there is a lot of research funding and some of the best research groups are here.
How have you seen Harvard change over the past three years?
“The battle between Harvard and right-wing America began after the Hamas attack on Israel on 7 October 2023. The Republican Party and major donors to Harvard felt that the university should have condemned the attack much more strongly and taken tougher action against the pro-Palestinian protests on campus. Later, another row erupted around former Harvard president Claudine Gay. She resigned after her position became untenable due to allegations of plagiarism and not condemning anti-Semitism strongly enough.”
“That’s when the trouble started at Harvard. After Trump’s inauguration, things moved quickly. More than 2 billion dollars in research funding has been withdrawn and visas for international students are at stake.”
How does this affect researchers?
“Postdocs will be particularly hard hit. They fall between two stools because they are no longer students but do not yet have a permanent position at the university. I hear stories of researchers who had been offered a postdoc position that has now been withdrawn. I am lucky that my research institute is funded by private money.”
Harvard is currently the only university to have rebelled against the measures Trump has introduced at American universities in recent months. In mid-April, Trump launched an attack on Harvard and cut 2 billion euros in subsidies because the university refused to curb activism on campus. Harvard responded by filing a lawsuit against the American government.
Outside of the court case, Harvard is negotiating with the US government to reach a deal. That decision will form the blueprint for policy at other American universities. The decision will reveal the extent to which Harvard can withstand pressure from the government.
“Many people are stressed, the atmosphere is much more tense than before. This is not only true for Harvard, but I see it at other universities in the United States as well. Researchers don’t feel safe. Take the 30-year-old PhD student at Tufts University (a university in Boston) who was arrested and handcuffed in broad daylight by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). She had contributed to a single opinion piece. That really shocks people.”
Does that also affect whether researchers are still willing to speak out?
“Yes, definitely. Although I feel like: if I don’t talk about it – and this sounds very pathetic – then they’ve already won.”
You yourself are starting a postdoc at Stockholm University in September. How do you feel about leaving Harvard?
“It feels like a good time to go. At the same time, I look back on a really great time. America is a really nice country to live in and, paradoxically, it’s one of the easiest countries to integrate into. Everyone is open and welcoming. You can really participate here. That’s different in the Netherlands: people already have friends. Because everyone in Boston lives far from home, making friends is much easier here. And that’s what makes it so cruel that such harsh measures are now being taken on immigration. So I’m very concerned about the future of the university.”
Has Harvard lost some of its lustre?
“No, I don’t think so. I’m really proud that Harvard has taken such a stand for science. I notice that in the people here too. During the graduation ceremony, the current president received a standing ovation that lasted several minutes. And a common enemy also brings people together. The leaders of both the pro- and anti-Israel protests at Harvard spoke out against the visa ban, showing that, despite our differences, we are all in favour of international students. The atmosphere here on campus is very different from a year ago. There is more unity.”
