Campus Affinity Groups Host Welcoming Ceremonies for the Class of 2029

Hundreds of Harvard students and affiliates celebrated members of the Class of 2029 at welcoming ceremonies hosted by campus affinity groups this past week.

Black Welcoming Ceremony, hosted by the Harvard Black Students Association, was held on Sept. 13 at Memorial Church. On Friday, Concilio Latino de Harvard and the Harvard South Asian Association welcomed freshmen at Latinx Convocation and South Asian Welcome Ceremony, respectively.

The Harvard Society of Arab Students will hold Arab Reception on Friday at the Winthrop House Junior Common Room.

The celebrations — which were publicized as open to all and attended by undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, and alumni — come amid structural changes to diversity, equity, and inclusivity initiatives at the College following demands from the Trump administration to eliminate all DEI programming across the University.

In July, Harvard College disbanded their three diversity offices and combined them into the new Harvard Foundation — prompting campus affinity groups to seek alternate sources of funding for hosting events.

At the eighth annual Latinx Convocation — which was held at First Parish in Cambridge, rather than Memorial Church, due to funding uncertainties — several speakers addressed the “critical” timing of the Class of 2029’s arrival to campus.

Concilio Advocacy Chair Minerva C. Garcia ’26 referenced the diversity office closures in her speech, urging the freshmen to embrace their identities.

“Physical spaces created for marginalized identities are disappearing. Funding for affinity celebrations — like this one — has been cut,” she said.

“But let there be no doubt. Despite the efforts to shrink our presence on campus, we are still here,” Garcia added. “In a time where identities and communities are being targeted, it’s more important than ever to live authentically.”

College spokesperson Jonathan Palumbo did not respond to a request for comment.

Student speaker Mia F. Lupica ’26 assured the freshmen that despite the controversies surrounding Harvard, they would find their place at the College.

“You are coming to Harvard at a time of great political and social change, which can be worrying and uncertain,” Lupica, a Crimson News Editor, said. “But after the next four years, I can guarantee you that you will be incredibly resilient.”

“This University belongs to you — no matter what,” she added.

Several attendees donned red ribbons pinned to their chests during the ceremony. The ribbons were a representation of “solidarity with the immigrant community,” according to Concilio leader Steven A. Birkner ’28.

“We really want to reinforce with this celebration — especially at the beginning of the year — Latine solidarity within the community,” Birkner said.

Attendee Samuel Ruiz-Macias ’29 said the event helped him to see the support available for him at the College.

“At times it seems like we’re few and spread apart, but seeing this event and seeing all these people around, I know that there’s a community here for me,” he said.

The second annual South Asian Welcome ceremony, which was held in Memorial Church, featured a keynote speech by History professor Sugata Bose and remarks from South Asian affinity groups.

Harvard undergraduates come together to celebrate the South Asian Welcome ceremony. By A. Skye Schmiegelow

“Whether you or your parents or your grandparents come from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Afghanistan, or the Maldives — always remember that we all belong to the same South Asian family with a varied but shared history and culture,” Bose said.

“Scholarship knows no national boundaries, and friendships also must cross these boundaries,” he added in an interview following the event.

SAA co-presidents Karan A. Shah ’27 and Saanvi Malkani ’27 encouraged freshmen to find not “just a community” but “a home” on campus through affinity groups.

The celebration also included a slate of student performances featuring South Asian songs and dance from Harvard Undergraduate Bhangra, Harvard Undergraduate Deepam, Harvard South Asian Music Association, and Penn Masala, a group from the University of Pennsylvania.

Following the ceremony, attendees were invited to Boylston Hall for a celebratory dinner that displayed a variety of dishes from South Asian cuisine from samosas to biryani.

Shah said the purpose of the welcoming ceremony was “to showcase what it’s like to be a South Asian at Harvard.”

“Showcase the people, the fine arts, the fun, the food, as you make sure that everyone knows that no matter where you are coming from — inside the U.S., outside the U.S. — when you come to Cambridge, that you are still very true to your roots,” he added.

—Staff writer Alexander W. Anoma can be reached at alexander.anoma@thecrimson.com. Follow him on X @AnomaAlexander.

—Staff writer Chantel A. De Jesus can be reached at chantel.dejesus@thecrimson.com. Follow her on X @c_a_dejesus.