Harvard Adopts Institutional Neutrality Amidst Campus Protests

The university will refrain from making political statements unrelated to its core academic mission, following a contentious year of public controversy.

• Harvard's new policy follows the Kalven Report model but includes exceptions for defending academic freedom and university autonomy.
• The decision comes after months of protests and demands for the university to take sides on political issues, particularly the Israel-Hamas conflict.
• A working group report stressed the risks of compromising academic integrity by issuing statements on external matters.
• The policy aims to refocus the university on its primary mission of education and research.
• The move has garnered both praise and criticism, reflecting broader debates on the role of universities in social and political discourse.

5 Articles

New York Daily News American Enterprise Institute Washington Examiner The Crimson Reason.com