As legal battles drag out, and possibly work their way up to a firmly conservative Supreme Court, the school is at an increasing disadvantage, some observers point out.

This week, a federal judge sided with Harvard in one of its two lawsuits, blocking an order by President Trump to prevent international students from enrolling.

The latest attacks from the Trump administration against the institution are "illegal" steps aiming to retailiate against it, Harvard University President Alan Garber said.