By: C. William Hanson Jr.

“In 2021, JD Vance, then a candidate for Ohio senate, gave a provocative keynote address at the American Conservatism Conference.  Vance’s lecture was an indictment of American higher education: a ‘hostile institution’  that ‘gives credibility to some of the most ridiculous ideas that exist in this country.’ The aspiring politician did not mince words before his receptive rightwing audience: ‘If any of us wants to do the things we want to do … We have to honestly and aggressively attack the universities.’ The title of Vance’s keynote was inspired by a quote from Richard Nixon: ‘The universities are the enemy.’”

–Lauren Lassabe Shepard, PhD

This spring Trump began the attack with Columbia University. Columbia University President Shipman capitulated to his authoritarian demands. Not the students, however: protest by Columbia University students has not ceased.

Columbia Students chain themselves to the main gate

Alice Speri reports that Jewish students, faculty and alumni are more and more pushing back against the exploitation of antisemitism charges to justify repressive policies they say do not represent their Jewish values; they have written letters, led protests, lobbied legislators and denounced what they say is the systematic exclusion of Jewish perspectives that are critical of Israel from the national conversation over antisemitism.

Protesting students booed when President Shipman took the rostrum on May 21:

In their chant they are protesting the Columbia administration for not doing enough to obtain the release of Columbia student activist Mahmoud Khalil, who was taken from his apartment by U. S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement (ICE) agents on March 8, 2025.  

Having obtained the capitulation of the Columbia University Administration, Trump shifted his target to Harvard. Harvard’s President Alan Garber told him “no.”  Strongly contrasting with the scene at Columbia, this was the welcome he received:

Trump poses a threat not only to Harvard but also to fundamental liberties enshrined in the Constitution and especially in the Bill of Rights, along with the imminent replacement of our democracy by an autocracy. Two commentaries deserve the time they require.

Andrew Chang on CBS tells of Trump’s undertaking to destroy Harvard University:

Providing perspective on Chang’s analysis and on the broader implications, Barack Obama clarifies the profound challenge we currently face:

As it seems impossible to improve in any way on Obama’s analysis, let’s change focus to a happier topic, the gifts the Turkish culture has provided to us and the world. I have enjoyed several visits to Turkey over the years, though I hope to travel there more often in the future. Historically, Turkey has been the center of several great empires, including the Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman Empires. Each of these periods has left a lasting imprint on architecture and the arts. Turkish culture strikes me as a unique blend of elements from East and West. I have greatly enjoyed the Turkish coffee culture, recognized by UNESCO, which highlights the country’s deep-rooted traditions of hospitality and social interaction. Additionally I enjoy Turkish cuisine, famous for its diverse flavors, has made its mark on global culinary practices, with dishes like kebabs and mezes being enjoyed worldwide. Highly impressive to me are architectural achievements in Turkey, such as Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, and the Blue Mosque, which encompass a mix of Byzantine and Ottoman influences.

Turkish textiles and ceramics have earned my admiration, and I am told that they have influenced many artisanal practices globally.  I also very much enjoy Turkish music, about which I have no expertise, despite my having close friends and family members with vast knowledge and talent in performing such music. I have learned that Turkish music spans a wide range from Turkish folk with regional variation and pop to classical Ottoman, and that instruments on which Turkish musicians play include some which are distinctively Turkish: the oud, a stringed instrument similar to a lute, the ney (a type of flute), and the darbuka (a goblet drum).  My dear friend Beth Cohen, a member of the Berklee Conservatory faculty, kindly provided this, in which she is playing Turkish yayli (bowed) tanbur with Vasilis Kostas on Greek laouto; they are playing a Greek song from Turkey, “O Monoholos”:

My nephew Jesse Manno, renowned composer and Music Director of the University of Colorado, Boulder Department of Theater and Dance, provided this:

Having heard this music from both Beth and Jesse, you should not be surprised to learn that both enjoy wide recognition as world class musicians.

Lastly, regarding Turkey, we’ll highlight the reader comment this month, which tells what has happened to universities and education in Turkey during the past decade. The sender, Yiğit Niyazi Körlü, is himself an extremely talented teacher. Let his comments be a cautionary tale for us.

With regards to Ukraine, there is unfortunately nothing much new to report, and the map shows no substantial changes in recent weeks:

As someone who has experienced the Turkish education system firsthand, I’ve seen how academic freedom has slowly been taken away over the years. Since the failed coup attempt in 2016, the government has used it as an excuse to fire thousands of academics, close down universities, and punish those who think differently. One of the most upsetting moments for many of us was when university rectors began to be appointed directly by the president, without input from the academic community. It felt like a clear message: universities are no longer free to govern themselves. Many professors and students are now afraid to speak openly, even in classrooms. I know people who had to leave the country just to be able to continue their research freely. It’s heartbreaking, because education should be about curiosity, discussion, and freedom—not fear and control.

-Yiğit Niyazi Körlü