Since President Donald Trump began his second term in office, he has targeted universities across the country — whether it be through funding freezes, student and faculty censorship or, in Harvard University’s case, lawsuits. Recently, the Trump administration called for Harvard to invest about $500 million in building trade and vocational schools as part of an initiative to “refocus young Americans on career preparation” instead of on higher education, which Trump called an “economically unproductive postsecondary system.”

Boston University President Melissa Gilliam visited Washington, D.C. Feb. 26 and spoke to an audience of around 150 BU alumni, government workers and members of Congress about the importance of advancing scientific research.