Overview
- In an Identity/Crisis podcast interview recorded Dec. 16 and noticed this week, President Alan Garber said Harvard “went wrong” by letting professors inject personal views that discouraged students from speaking.
- Garber said there is “real movement to restore balance” in teaching, emphasizing facts, analytic tools, and rigor over advocacy or promoting particular political perspectives.
- He described a generational shift, noting younger faculty often prioritize elevating underrepresented voices, which he contrasted with older norms of keeping personal politics out of class.
- Garber pointed to steps such as updated orientation modules on discussing contentious topics and task-force reports addressing bias toward Jewish, Israeli, Muslim, Arab, and Palestinian affiliates.
- The comments come as Harvard defends recent reforms on antisemitism, protest rules, and DEI restructuring and continues a legal fight with the Trump administration over withheld federal funding.