Harvard's 'Blank Space' Era? Trump Admin Investigates Race-Based Article Selection, and I'm Just Here for the Drama

A 'Love Story' Gone Sour: Trump vs. Harvard

Okay so picture this: the Trump administration and Harvard locked in a feud fiercer than my battle with Scooter Braun over my masters. Apparently the administration isn't too thrilled with Harvard's DEI programs and wants them to screen international students for shall we say 'ideological red flags.' Sounds like a plot twist straight out of 'Look What You Made Me Do,' doesn't it? It's giving 'Bad Blood' but like with legal briefs.

'22 (Million)' Problems: Funding Frozen Lawsuits Filed

Hold on to your cardigans Swifties because things are about to get spicy. The Trump administration froze a whopping $2.2 billion in grants to Harvard citing concerns about antisemitism and other issues on campus. Talk about a 'Blank Space' in Harvard's budget! And naturally Harvard responded by suing the administration. It's like they're saying 'You Need to Calm Down,' but through the legal system. Honestly I'm starting to think this is all just a very elaborate 'The Man' music video in real life.

Justice is Blind But Apparently Not Colorblind? The Law Review Scandal

Now here's where it gets even more 'All Too Well' heartbreaking. The Department of Education and the Department of Health & Human Services are investigating the Harvard Law Review for allegedly selecting articles based on the author's race not merit. Apparently there might be some 'invisible string' pulling the strings behind the scenes. Say it ain't so! The claim is it violates Title VI of the Civil Rights Act which basically says you can't discriminate based on race if you're getting federal money. I mean come on isn't the goal to make the 'The Best Day' for everyone? I'm just a songwriter but even I know that!

Obama's Legacy Under Scrutiny? A 'Delicate' Situation

Former President Barack Obama a Harvard Law School alum himself made history as the first black president of the Law Review. But this investigation throws a bit of shade on that legacy. The whole thing started when The Washington Free Beacon published an article claiming the Law Review has a 'pervasive pattern of racial discrimination.' They allege that only about half of the members are admitted based solely on academic performance and the rest are chosen by a 'holistic review committee' that prioritizes 'underrepresented groups.' Sounds like a modern day Romeo and Juliet but this time Romeo and Juliet is the Harvard Law Review.

'Holistic Review': A 'Mine'field of Controversy

According to the Free Beacon the Law Review has 'incorporated race into nearly every stage of its article selection process,' and editors are supposedly killing or advancing pieces based on the author's race. This is like when people told me I couldn't write songs about breakups! Like I said 'I Forgot That You Existed' and wrote 'We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together.' The government statement even quoted a Law Review editor who was 'concerned' that 'four of the five people' who wanted to reply to an article about police reform 'are white men.' Yikes!

The 'Reputation' on the Line: Will Harvard Shake It Off?

Craig Trainor the Education Department's acting assistant secretary for civil rights didn't mince words: 'Harvard Law Review's article selection process appears to pick winners and losers on the basis of race.' He added that 'no institution — no matter its pedigree prestige or wealth — is above the law.' Talk about a burn! It's giving 'Mean' girl vibes but with a dash of legal jargon. So will Harvard 'Shake It Off' and change its ways? Or will this feud continue to escalate? Only time will tell. As for me I'll be over here writing songs about it.