Reason

Martin Kulldorff talks about his dismissal from Harvard Medical School, college vaccine mandates, and censorship during the Covid on Reason’s Just Asking Questions.

Crimson

HLS Professor Randall Kennedy argues that “by requiring academics to profess — and flaunt — faith in DEI, the proliferation of diversity statements poses a profound challenge to academic freedom.”

On On March 21st, Harvard’s Safra Center for Ethics hosted a panel discussion on the impact of DEI on higher ed. The event, sponsored by the FAS Civil Discourse Initiative, was part of the Civil Disagreements series and Harvard College’s Intellectual Vitality Initiative. Panelists included: Jeannie Suk Gersen, Stacy Hawkins, Amna Khalid, and Ilya Shapiro.

Crimson

Harvard Professor and Council on Academic Freedom at Harvard member Tyler J. VanderWeele outlines the issue of viewpoint diversity as it relates to the search for truth.

Crimson

Lorenzo Z. Ruiz ’27 argues that “Harvard doesn’t know what it wants to be” and proposes what it should be— “the University must unify its purpose behind a fortified, generous academic character.”

The Crimson

The Council on Academic Freedom at Harvard unanimously endorsed a statement entitled “The Freedoms of a University.” The statement does not demand specific policies, but outlines broad principles to discharge its obligations as a university, followed by general recommendations.

New Yorker

Gerson argues that Harvard is at a crossroads, where they “will be tempted to discipline objectionable speech in order to demonstrate that they are dedicated to rooting out antisemitism and Islamophobia…[but] Unless we conscientiously and mindfully pull away from that path, academic freedom—which is essential to fulfilling a university’s purpose—will meet its destruction.”

WSJ

Harvard Professor Roland Fryer, who overcame statistically insurmountable obstacles to become a world-renowned economist, argues that DEI based on finding talent should not be part of the collateral damage in rooting out DEI excesses. “I worry that the desire to take down DEI in its entirety will make successes like mine harder, even impossible… Optimizing talent and giving all the opportunity to reach their full potential are at the core of what it means to be American.”

Tablet

A must-read on DEI from Pastor Corey Brooks, CEO of Project H.O.O.D. on Chicago’s South Side. “While DEI ideologues and beneficiaries like [Claudine] Gay may share the same skin color with us, there is very little, if anything, that my community had in common with [them]…Their stock-in-trade is a soul-destroying poison whose moral and real-world effects are as negative for our communities as those of any other drug that is sold here.”

Summit

Harvard College, along with PEN America, to host Intellectual Vitality and Free Expression Summit on January 18th and 19th 2024.

With the recent turmoil at Harvard, a host of alumni are seeking petition candidacy for the Board of Overseers.

Nominated slates have been announced, including Overseer candidate perspectives.

Crimson

Former Harvard College Dean, co-president of the Council on Academic Freedom at Harvard, and author of the book Excellence Without a Soul: How a Great University Forgot Education, Harvard professor Harry Lewis ‘68 argues that “unapologetic antisemitism — whether the incidents are few or numerous — is a college phenomenon because of what we teach, and how our teachings are exploited by malign actors.”

HKS Education Next

A talk with Harvard Professor James Hankins on academic honesty and it’s importance in research institutions.

Boston Globe |

Harvard alum and Globe opinion writer, editorial writer and Editorial Board member Carine Hajjar AB 01 argues that “If Harvard University wants to avoid more scandals like the ones that felled president Claudine Gay — and improve the educational experience on campus at the same time — the solution is straightforward: It needs to rebuild a culture on campus in which many points of view can be aired freely…”

Claudine Gay resigns with letter to the Harvard community and a followup letter from the Corporation.

Harvard Magazine

Cho questions whether students should always bring one’s identity into the classroom, and how doing so unquestioningly, and always, can compromise learning and intellectual growth.

Harvey Silverglate HLS 67 and FIRE co-founder, is running as a petition candidate for overseer for the second year in a row. A fierce free speech advocate and devoted Harvard alum, Silverglate, the co-author of Shadow University, foresaw today’s campus issues long before most. Please see his website here.

WSJ | Harvard Professor Hankins

Professor Hankins argues that politicization and lower standards jeopardize Harvard’s standing as a great research institution.

Sam Lessin ‘05 is running as a petition candidate for Overseer. Signatures due 1/31/24.