{shortcode-1ddfa0b97359673229347d8579d084c6727d4daa}
Hundreds of students packed Tercentenary Theatre on Sunday as Grammy-nominated artist Natasha Bedingfield took the stage for Yardfest — the College’s annual spring concert — following three student band performances, one of which criticized recent federal attacks on pro-Palestine protesters.
Student band Stryk9, one of the openers, criticized Harvard President Alan M. Garber ’76 and the targeting of pro-Palestine protesters by the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement office during their performance.
“This song is for President Garber,” the punk rock band called out before launching into a medley that included songs “Yes, It’s Fucking Political,” as well as Green Day’s “No Trump, No KKK, No Fascist USA” chant.
The band also sang an original song about “things we’re not supposed to say out loud.”
“We wrote this song a few days ago because apparently saying ‘Free Palestine’ gets you abducted by ICE,” the band said, introducing the song.
Hours prior, The Crimson reported that five Harvard affiliates — including three current students and two graduates — had their visas revoked by the Trump administration amid a nation-wide push to deport international students involved in pro-Palestine activism.
“There’s a lot of repression of student voices right now. There’s a lot of capitulating to the Trump administration and that is headed by President Garber. So we wanted to send that message,” Sierra S. Stocker ’25, Stryk9’s lead guitarist, said in an interview following the performance.
The Trump administration announced Monday that three federal agencies would review more than $8 billion of planned federal funding to Harvard over campus antisemitism concerns. That day, Garber sent an email to Harvard affiliates that he planned to “engage” with the federal government’s investigation.
When asked what he thought of the students’ political messaging, Dean of Students Thomas G. Dunne, who attended YardFest, said “that’s part of art” and that the band’s statement was “in keeping” with University policies surrounding free expression.
“We support our students’ freedom of speech and expression,” Jason R. Meier, Associate Dean for Student Engagement, said.
The University did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the band’s criticisms Sunday.
Several students said Yardfest was an opportunity to build school spirit and camaraderie.
Ariana N. Barillas ’28 said she appreciated school-wide events like Harvard-Yale and Yardfest where she could feel “connected to the whole school.”
“I feel like we don’t get so many opportunities as an entire school to come together,” Barillas said. “It’s really easy to feel super disconnected from the student body as a whole, especially just because it’s not considered such a social school. But I think events like this are just so nice.”
Ella V. Ricketts ’28, said she appreciated the opportunity for the class years to “all mingle together.”
Caleb N. Thompson ’27 — one of the newly-elected Harvard Undergraduate Association presidents — said he and his friends used Yardfest as a chance to unwind and show out as “midterm season” wrapped up.
“It’s great to see people when they’re not so stressed, when they’re relaxed, when they’re having a good time,” Thompson said.
Earlier in the day, students attended one of the four block parties hosted by the House Committees, which featured attractions like corn mazes, mechanical bulls, and free food.
Yardfest also featured two other student bands, the Yardbops and Big Tuesday. All three bands earned the chance to perform alongside Bedingfield at the Campus Event Board’s annual Battle for Yardfest.
Jude L. Stafford ’26 — a Crimson Sports editor — said he is typically more impressed by Yardfest’s student band performances than the main act.
“They’re some famous singer, some famous band. You expect them to be really good,” Stafford said. “These are just students who — on top of all their studies and everything — are incredible talents.”
As the student bands performed, a small crowd of 30 students gathered in front of the stage, but they “got lit,” according to Thompson.
“I was dancing. I was jumping up and down. I had my arms around the people around me,” he said. “We were just jumping — going crazy.”
Still, many students expressed satisfaction and enthusiasm for CEB’s pick of Bedingfield.
“I’m super excited,” Kylie S. Oh ’28 said before Bedingfield’s performance, adding that the artist’s song “Unwritten” has been “on repeat” since its inclusion in the romantic-comedy film “Anyone But You.”
Ryan F. Irving ’27, who emceed the Battle for Yardfest, called Yardfest “sick.”
“Compared to last year, there’s way more people here. Energy’s high,” he said, pausing as the opening notes to “Unwritten” played.
“Is it okay if I go dance?” he asked before dashing off to join the growing crowd.
—Staff writer Hiral M. Chavre can be reached at hiral.chavre@thecrimson.com. Follow her on X @h_chavre.
—Staff writer Darcy G Lin can be reached at darcy.lin@thecrimson.com.
