Editorials
On Mental Health, Harvard Isn’t Out of the Woods Yet
On campus mental health, we’re not sure Harvard has all that much to celebrate yet. A step in the right direction is just that — when it comes to wellbeing, our campus needs a paradigm shift.
DEI May Have Failed at Harvard. So Will the Rebrand.
Absent that, the OCC will merely inherit the worst of DEI’s reputation: symbolism without substance. DEI as Harvard practiced it fell short, but giving it a hasty, ill-explained paint job isn’t sensible reform.
Dissent: Much Ado About Nothing
But, alas, the folding of several of the College’s DEI offices into the Harvard Foundation — a part of the newly rebranded Office of Culture and Community — is nothing more than a cosmetic makeover.
Harvard’s Lawsuit Proves That Resistance Is Possible
Against that backdrop, the ruling in Harvard’s lawsuit provides a welcome reminder that universities don’t have to sacrifice their values in service of their research. Of course, there will be more letters filled with infeasible or unconstitutional demands. But now, there’s a precedent for how to fight back.
Who Does Harvard Owe?
This year, Harvard has been pulled in every direction — by Congress, donors, media, and its own constituents. In all the noise, one fundamental question remains unanswered: Who gets a say as to how Harvard is governed?
What Does Harvard Owe?
None of these debts will be paid by defensive press releases or another round of task-force PowerPoints. They will be paid only by the hard, communal work of building a Harvard that is both excellent and broadly, unapologetically egalitarian.
Harvard’s International Students Are People — Not Pawns
Make no mistake: This is an attack on the fundamental value of pluralism — worthwhile for its own sake and fundamental to excellence and innovation. To protect our peers’ right to continue their education, Harvard can’t stop fighting back.
The Reports Are Out — Now It’s Our Turn.
We commend the University for taking a first step to address the biases that exist on this campus, but we hold our applause to see what steps it takes next.
Harvard’s DEI Rebrand Will Serve It Well
We hope that the renaming of Harvard’s diversity office and the end of University-funded graduation ceremonies are a signal of a shift in DEI policy. Without divisive branding, common-sense programs can continue without having their name tarred and feathered in the court of public opinion.
Dissent: Harvard Shouldn’t Sacrifice Values for Optics
Tossing the label of “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion” might be politically expedient for now. But it will not solve Harvard’s public relations crisis. Instead, it only muddies our moral compass.
Harvard Is Trying To Standardize its Discipline — That’s a Good Thing
Harvard’s move to centralize protest discipline is a welcome first step. If this system is to endure, it must be consistent, transparent, and strong enough to outlast the next crisis. Otherwise, we’ll be back where we began: wondering why our punishment depends on the logo on our lanyards.
It’s High Time for Emergency Preparedness at Harvard
Last Sunday’s events should be a wake-up call. The Harvard community is fortunate that we didn’t face a more serious emergency — but that’s all the more reason to prepare in case we do.
Harvard’s Tuition Isn’t the Cause of College Inaccessibility
To Republicans interested in tackling the very real problem of college accessibility, we recommend you take a break from gutting the Department of Education to target the many real culprits of the affordability crisis.
Dissent: Lowering College Costs Starts at the Top
We must acknowledge the role the Ivy League has in setting the tone for American universities and realize, in this case, that congress has a point.
Harvard’s Lawsuit Is a Stand Worth Taking
The line has been drawn. Now it’s time for higher education — and the rest of civil society — to pick a side.
Trump’s Attacks Have a Human Cost. We Must Keep Fighting.
The battle to keep the American university alive starts in Cambridge — it can’t be won until all institutions stand shoulder‑to‑shoulder to defend the students who make them worth saving.
Harvard Has Decided To Lead the Charge. It Can’t Do It Alone.
Harvard faced a difficult choice: Lose billions in federal funding or sacrifice its centuries-old soul. It chose right. Now here’s hoping our peers follow suit.
A Palestine Exception to Harvard’s Academic Mission
The ongoing threat to programs like this one hampers Harvard’s academic mission. Rather than inhibit academic discourse, the University should actively uplift spaces for discussion around this conflict.
Trump’s Demands Prove What We Already Knew
What does DEI have to do with antisemitism? Since when did kidnapping students off the street protect our Jewish community? We’ve said it before, and it is now clearer than ever: This attack on higher education was never about protecting Jewish students.
Putting the PSC on Probation Won’t Make Trump Go Away
And even if obedience could insulate the University from future attacks, reshaping our speech policies at the whim of the White House would be a profound desertion of our values.
On the Disappearance of Rumeysa Ozturk
In a world where an op-ed is grounds for deportation, democracy dies a silent death. Harvard must ensure it does not go quietly with it.
Dissent: Pointless Statements Won’t Protect Us From Trump
In a world where the Trump administration is cutting universities’ federal funding left and right, any defiance from Harvard comes at a cost. The University has a responsibility to its students, faculty, and researchers to be prudent when risking further funding cuts.
If Harvard Won’t Stand Up, Who Will?
As Trump unleashes a salvo on colleges across the country, it’s easy to run for cover. But if a university of Harvard’s stature won’t step up, then who will?
Harvard Must Exercise Caution Before Cutting Ties With Birzeit
Ultimately, Harvard owes its students and affiliates exposure to the research and unique perspectives of Palestinians, and collaboration with Birzeit faculty appears to be a good method to achieve that goal. So Harvard — look carefully, consider the context, and refuse to sever a partnership simply because someone told you so.
Harvard Faculty Did the Right Thing. The University Should Too.
With this lawsuit, they’ve laid out a blueprint for resisting Trump’s assault on the academy. Now, it’s time for the University — alongside other institutions — to follow it.