College News
Harvard College Raises Student Activities Fee to Mandatory $450 To Fund Free Laundry
Dean of Harvard College David J. Deming announced in an email to the College that laundry will be free for all undergraduates, financed by an increase in the Student Activities Fee to $450.
Fajr Khan ’26 Named Rhodes Scholar From Pakistan
Fajr Khan ’26 was selected as one of two Rhodes Scholars from Pakistan to pursue graduate studies at the University of Oxford next year.
Researchers Use Mather House as ‘Living Laboratory’ for Food and Energy Waste Study
Mather House is being used as a “living laboratory” to study energy consumption, waste, and sustainability in older buildings.
Harvard Families Arrive on Campus for Family Weekend
Family members of Harvard College freshmen and juniors traveled to campus this past weekend for Family Weekend, an annual event that brings relatives from around the world to catch a glimpse of student life at Harvard.
Harvard College’s Grading System Is ‘Failing,’ Report on Grade Inflation Says
More Harvard College students than ever are passing their classes with flying colors, but the College’s evaluation system is “failing to perform the key functions of grading,” according to a report released by the Office of Undergraduate Education on Monday.
Harvard Bans Alumni Interviewers From Writing About Applicants’ Race, Ethnicity, or National Origin
Harvard will forbid alumni interviewers from including any information about an applicant’s race, ethnicity, or national origin in their written evaluations this admissions cycle.
Black and Hispanic Enrollment Drops, Asian Enrollment Rises for Harvard’s Class of 2029
The proportion of Black and Hispanic students enrolled in Harvard College’s freshman class dropped in the second year after the Supreme Court overturned race-conscious undergraduate admissions, according to data released by Harvard on Thursday.
Dunster Resident Dean Addresses Backlash Over Social Media Posts Blasting Trump, Police
Dunster House resident dean Gregory K. Davis reaffirmed his commitment to maintaining a welcoming space for all students in an email sent to House affiliates on Wednesday after years-old comments he made on social media resurfaced, sparking calls for his resignation.
After QuOffice’s Closure, Its Staff Are No Longer Confidential Resources for Students Reporting Sexual Misconduct
Harvard College’s Office of BGLTQ Student Life staff no longer serve as confidential resources following the office’s dissolution over the summer, narrowing the options available to students who want to discuss sexual harassment or misconduct without notifying the College’s Title IX office.
Months After Barker Cafe Closure, the Space’s Future Remains Uncertain
Five months after the Faculty of Arts and Sciences closed the Barker Center Cafe in response to budget pressures, the space remains sealed off to students by a metal gate and its future remains uncertain.
Harvard College Will Ignore Student Magazine Article Echoing Hitler Unless It Faces Complaints, Deming Says
Harvard College Dean David J. Deming said during an interview on Friday that he would not review or comment on an article in a conservative student publication that echoed language from an Adolf Hitler speech because the College had not received complaints about the piece.
Will Flintoft ’26 Elected Australian Rhodes Scholar
Will J. Flintoft ’26 was awarded the Rhodes Scholarship last month, one of nine students from Australia to receive the honor this year.
Facemash Reloaded: UT Dallas Student Revives Website to Rank Harvard Students’ Attractiveness
Facemash, a website allowing users to rank the attractiveness of Harvard students, briefly returned to campus on Sunday, nearly 22 years after Facebook founder Mark E. Zuckerberg created the original version.
One Weekend in the Woods: How the Harvard-Radcliffe Orchestra Ran Afoul of Harvard’s New Hazing Policies
Harvard suspended the Harvard-Radcliffe Orchestra last week under newly tightened hazing policies. What led the College to decide the HRO had crossed a line?
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.
Charisma Chen ’26 Elected First Marshal for Harvard College Class of 2026
Charisma W. Chen ’26 and Mohan A. Hathi ’26 will serve as the first and second class marshals for the Class of 2026, according to five people familiar with the decision.
‘Loud and Proud’: Campus Groups Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month Despite Funding Uncertainties
Harvard students and affiliates are gathering to commemorate this year’s Hispanic Heritage month, which spans from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, through food, performances, and celebrations — even as Harvard is reducing institutional support for affinity groups and spaces on campus.
Before Leading Harvard College, David Deming Had a Lot to Say About Its Admissions Policies
Prior to stepping into the role of Harvard College dean in July, David J. Deming was a vocal scholar on elite institutions’ admissions processes, investigating how legacy preferences, athletic recruitment, and testing policies benefit wealthier students in admission to Ivy League schools like Harvard.
After Harvard’s Court Victory, Students and Faculty Rally Against Deal With Trump
Three days after a federal judge struck down the Trump administration’s decision to cancel more than $2.7 billion in federal research funding, roughly 80 Harvard students, professors, and supporters rallied to celebrate the court victory — and to urge the University to avoid a settlement with the administration.
Harvard College Disciplinary Cases Tripled in 2023-24 Amid Pro-Palestine Protest Wave
Harvard College’s disciplinary review board tripled its case load during the 2023-24 academic year, calling 90 students to appear for non-academic behavior, according to a report released over the summer.
HUDS To Replace Compostable To-Go Boxes With Reusable Containers
Harvard University Dining Services will no longer offer disposable to-go containers but will replace them with a reusable alternative that students can check out like library books, the school announced online this week.
Harvard College Closes Diversity Offices, Reassigns Staff to New ‘Harvard Foundation’
Harvard College will close its offices for minority students, LGBTQ students, and women and fold their staff under a new Office of Culture and Community, according to a Wednesday message from College Dean David J. Deming.
Climate Scientist Peter Huybers, Health Administrator Downing Lu Named Interim Kirkland House Faculty Deans
Earth and Planetary Sciences department chair Peter J. Huybers and Harvard Advanced Leadership Initiative senior fellow Downing Lu will serve as Kirkland House’s interim faculty deans, outgoing Harvard College Dean Rakesh Khurana announced in an email to Kirkland affiliates Tuesday.
‘Incredibly Surreal’: Harvard College Seniors Receive Diplomas at House Ceremonies After Turbulent Spring
After morning Commencement proceedings in Tercentenary Theatre concluded, graduating seniors made their way back to their residential Houses for the last time to receive their diplomas at House ceremonies.