Harvard’s Academic Authoritarians’ Rule; Higher Ed’s Future?

The last time I wrote about Harvard in this space, there was a real sense of hope.

It seemed interim President Dr. Alan Garber had managed to peacefully end the protest encampments in Harvard Yard without arrests and well ahead of graduation and alumni celebrations in May.

Hurray for Harvard?

I had even stopped short to say maybe Garber should no longer be interim, but permanent.

Thank goodness I refrained.

The last few weeks have been a nightmare for Harvard, for higher ed, and for diversity.

Emil GuillermoThis is the continued fallout after that House committee massacre of college presidents last January that notably cost Dr. Claudine Gay, the first African American president of Harvard, her job. Now we see, it wasn’t merely an inquiry on antisemitism on campus. The committee was looking to set a new political tone in higher ed and reverse a perceived left-wing push at colleges and universities pushing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).