Diversity
Students Hold Unofficial Affinity Celebrations, Marked by Anger at University Decision to Withdraw Support
Eight affinity groups held celebrations for Commencement this week, despite having been denied funding and access to campus venues by Harvard officials.
Weeks After Cutting Off Support for Affinity Grad Events, Harvard Funds ASL Interpreter for Disability Celebration
After the University announced it would no longer host or fund affinity group celebrations for Commencement, Harvard funded an interpreter for a Tuesday disability affinity ceremony but told organizers to distance the event from traditional affinity celebrations held in previous years.
The Rise and Fall of DEI at Harvard
Over the past three years, Harvard has shifted its approach to diversity, equity, and inclusion programs — moving from a full-throated support to abandoning the language of DEI amid threats from a hostile White House.
Garber Defends Leadership Changes and DEI Office Renaming, Denies Political Pressure
Harvard President Alan M. Garber ’76 acknowledged concerns that the dismissal of two faculty directors at the Center for Middle Eastern Studies in March and the renaming of the University’s diversity office appeared to some as concessions to the Trump administration, but declined to explain either decision.
6 New Members Elected to Harvard Board of Overseers
The newly-elected Overseers include Mark A. Edwards ’82, Nathaniel O. Keohane, Michael Rosenblatt, Anjali Sud, Courtney B. Vance ’82, and Mary Louise Kelly ’93.
Khurana Reaffirms Inclusivity Commitment As Affinity Groups Organize Unsponsored Grad Celebrations
Outgoing College Dean Rakesh Khurana affirmed his commitment to inclusive programming in a Tuesday interview after Harvard announced it would no longer fund or provide campus spaces for affinity graduation celebrations.
Harvard Affinity Groups Plan Commencement Celebrations Without University Support
At least six Harvard affinity groups will host unofficial celebrations for students graduating next week following the University’s decision to revoke funding and space for the annual traditions.
EEOC Launches Investigation Into Harvard’s Hiring Practices, Alleging Title VII Violations
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission launched an investigation into Harvard in late April, alleging that the University has engaged in discriminatory hiring practices in violation of Title VII since 2018, according to documents leaked to the Washington Free Beacon.
Harvard Renames Diversity Office As Trump Demands Dismantling of DEI
Harvard will immediately rename its Office of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging to “Community and Campus Life,” the University announced Monday.
Harvard Will Not Fund Affinity Group Graduation Celebrations Following Ed Department Warning
Harvard will no longer host or fund affinity group celebrations during Commencement, the University’s former diversity office wrote in an email to affinity groups on Monday afternoon.
HLS Dean of Students Condemns ‘Disturbing’ Mass Emails Sent to Students After Law Review Controversy
Harvard Law School Dean of Students Stephen L. Ball condemned a pair of mass emails sent to law students on Friday that accused the Harvard Law Review of discriminating against white authors and urged applicants to falsify their racial and gender identities on application materials.
Affinity Groups Face Silence From Harvard as Trump Targets Race-Based Graduation Celebrations
As Harvard faces threats to its federal funding over demands to cut diversity programming, it remains unclear whether affinity celebrations for this year’s Commencement will occur as usual.
After Trump’s Demands, Dean of Students Says College Diversity Offices Have No Plans To Cut Programming
Harvard College Dean of Students Thomas G. Dunne said in an interview with The Crimson on Tuesday that he does not expect the College’s diversity offices to be affected by the Trump administration’s crackdown on diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.
Peter Beinart Asks Harvard To ‘Lose With Dignity’ in Standoff With Trump at IOP Forum
Peter Beinart, the editor-at-large of the liberal publication Jewish Currents, said Harvard could only maintain its “self respect” by resisting Donald Trump’s demands against the University at an Institute of Politics Forum on Tuesday.
