Editorials
Harvard Must Choose Engagement Over Censorship
Using rhetoric that echoes Hitler is vile and unacceptable — full stop. Still, a University move to punish the Salient would set a dangerous precedent of policing student publications.
Reload Ethical Entrepreneurship at Harvard
In the modern attention economy, aspiring entrepreneurs are rewarded for creating the most disruptive, flashy, and viral projects possible.
A Rare Piece of Good News at Harvard
Indeed, HUPD’s latest crime numbers show us that campus reality is far more benign than sensationalist accounts would have it. Harvard’s faced a lot of bad news in the last year — the recent crime statistics are a welcome respite.
Trump’s Campaign Hit Harvard’s Coffers. It and America Will Suffer
Up against a pugnacious Trump administration, Harvard has downsized to protect its coffers once again. And while the University is sure to feel the hurt, America will be the ultimate loser.
The Free Speech Battle Isn’t Over Yet
The court’s decision is a welcome affirmation that free speech protections apply to all, regardless of citizenship status or federal government whims. Now, to defend the promise of the First Amendment on campus, it’s time for Harvard to turn its sights inwards to continued threats to speech on campus.
As Students in the AI Age, This Is the Choice We Face.
Faculty efforts to adapt and prioritize learning in this brave new world are certainly worthwhile. But as it becomes easier and easier to churn out a passable paper undetected with just a few keystrokes, the responsibility of deciding whether or not to rely on AI — and, indeed, determining the very purpose of our education — ultimately falls to us students.
Is Harvard’s Speech Culture on Fire?
Harvard's jump in the FIRE rankings might seem like cause for celebration — but the threats to free speech on our campus loom large.
Harvard’s Hazing Policy Has Gone Too Far
Surely, Harvard can meet the letter of federal law without completely criminalizing culture. Students deserve policies that treat them as adults capable of consent and community, not problems to be managed.
What Happened to HBS’s ‘Highest Aspirations’?
As Harvard internally separates the wheat from the chaff, it must exhibit prudence and care, applying a forward-thinking approach to ensure $25 million won’t mysteriously vanish in a few years time. As the seas of public opinion rise and fall, Harvard shouldn’t let its best DEI initiatives drown.
Harvard Won in Court. Research Still Isn’t Safe.
Harvard may have won its most recent battle, but it hasn’t won the war. With a murky funding future ahead, the University must adapt its approach to scientific research and find out how to ditch its rainy day fund for good.
You Can’t Admit Talent You Don’t Reach
So reinstate UMRP, or stand up an equally muscular replacement. Harvard cannot claim to educate society’s leaders while quietly pulling up the ladder that helped so many find the first rung.
This November, Vote for Housing and Bikes
For the sake of a better and more livable Cambridge, we urge our neighbors to support pro-housing and pro-bike policies come November.
Charlie Kirk’s Death Isn’t About College Campuses
Kirk's assassination isn’t a story of universities. Instead, it’s about two other deep-rooted issues: gun violence and internet radicalization.
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.