In his opening remarks, Chair of the Committee on Degrees in Social Studies Richard Tuck acknowledged the protestors, encouraging the exercise of free speech, but also asking them to recognize free speech of the celebration’s panel of speakers.
Protests—organized by Maryam M. Gharavi, a sixth year graduate student in the comparative literature department—consisted of protesters raising signs bearing some of Peretz’s controversial past quotes.Gharavi said that although she headed the protests, undergraduates played a huge role in their organization. She added that she was happy so many people, including Social Studies concentrators and alumni, came out to support the cause.
“Students continued to protest for almost six hours—Social Studies undergraduates were especially incensed,” Gharavi said. “People were horrified that a 25-year career in racism would be awarded in this day and age.”
Gharavi also said that she hoped the University would reconsider accepting the fund in Peretz’s name, as she argued that “hateful and bigoted statements should not be honored.”
“We absolutely encourage the administration and President Faust to reverse their decision,” Gharavi said.
Protestors tailed Peretz after a morning panel in the Science Center to greet him outside Adams House Dining Hall. The protestors were audible through the open windows, prompting dining hall workers to quickly shut the windows and close the curtains. Many members of the Social Studies community looked favorably on the protests.
“I’m happy to see the protest,” said History Department Chair James T. Kloppenberg, who serves as a member of the Social Studies Standing Committee. “Social studies is a lively and engaging community, so it’s good that the students are expressing themselves as they are.”
Kloppenberg said that within the Standing Committee “everyone was—without exception—appalled by Peretz’s comments.”
“But people interpreted his second apology differently—I took it as quite a powerful one,” Kloppenberg said. “I’ve been critical of his views on the Middle East for 30 years now, so nothing he says has surprised me or changed what I think of him.”
David A. Jost ’68, who registered to attend the Social Studies celebration well before the debate on the topic began, said “if in fact what [Peretz] said was accurately quoted, things that are so prejudicial to such a large group of citizens is truly reprehensible.”
“I haven’t read the blog,” William A.M. Blumberg ’68 said, “but what’s been appearing in the national media is just blatant nonsense.”
Blumberg suggested that the committee still made the right decision to “pocket the money,” as the fund would promote values that are consistent with Social Studies.
Princeton professor Michael Walzer, a friend of Peretz, defended both his friend and the fund in an afternoon panel discussion, saying that if people would criticize Peretz’s comments, they should review all annotations and comments made in lecture by other Social Studies professors—to the hissing of audience members. Even as University of Pennsylvania President Amy Gutmann ’71 gave the evening keynote address rounding out the celebration, the controversy over the honoring of Peretz still dominated much of the Saturday celebration.
“Social Studies is not about Marty Peretz, but that’s what this whole celebration has been about,” Wolff said.
—Staff writer Julia R. Jeffries can be reached at juliajeffries@college.harvard.edu.
—Staff writer Gautam S. Kumar can be reached at gkumar@college.harvard.edu.