The Promise of American Higher Education
Dear Members of the Harvard Community,
For three-quarters of a century, the federal government has awarded grants and
contracts to Harvard and other universities to help pay for work that, along
with investments by the universities themselves, has led to groundbreaking
innovations across a wide range of medical, engineering, and scientific fields.
These innovations have made countless people in our country and throughout the
world healthier and safer. In recent weeks, the federal government has
threatened its partnerships with several universities, including Harvard, over
accusations of antisemitism on our campuses. These partnerships are among the
most productive and beneficial in American history. New frontiers beckon us
with the prospect of life-changing advances—from treatments for diseases such
as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and diabetes, to breakthroughs in artificial
intelligence, quantum science and engineering, and numerous other areas of
possibility. For the government to retreat from these partnerships now risks
not only the health and well-being of millions of individuals but also the
economic security and vitality of our nation.
Late
Friday night, the administration issued an updated and expanded list of
demands, warning that Harvard must comply if we intend to “maintain [our]
financial relationship with the federal government.” It makes clear that the
intention is not to work with us to address antisemitism in a cooperative and
constructive manner. Although some of the demands outlined by the government
are aimed at combating antisemitism, the majority represent direct governmental
regulation of the “intellectual conditions” at Harvard.
I encourage you to read the letter to gain a fuller understanding
of the unprecedented demands being made by the federal government to control
the Harvard community. They include requirements to “audit” the viewpoints of
our student body, faculty, staff, and to “reduc[e] the power” of certain
students, faculty, and administrators targeted because of their ideological
views. We have informed the administration through our legal counsel that we will not accept their proposed agreement. The
University will not surrender its independence or relinquish its constitutional
rights.
The administration’s prescription goes beyond the power of the federal
government. It violates Harvard’s First Amendment rights and exceeds the
statutory limits of the government’s authority under Title VI. And it threatens
our values as a private institution devoted to the pursuit, production, and
dissemination of knowledge. No government—regardless of which party is in
power—should dictate what private universities can teach, whom they can admit
and hire, and which areas of study and inquiry they can pursue.
Our motto—Veritas, or truth—guides us as we navigate the challenging path
ahead. Seeking truth is a journey without end. It requires us to be open to new
information and different perspectives, to subject our beliefs to ongoing
scrutiny, and to be ready to change our minds. It compels us to take up the
difficult work of acknowledging our flaws so that we might realize the full
promise of the University, especially when that promise is threatened.
We have made it abundantly clear that we do not take lightly our moral duty to
fight antisemitism. Over the past fifteen months, we have taken many steps to
address antisemitism on our campus. We plan to do much more. As we defend
Harvard, we will continue to:
- nurture a thriving culture of open inquiry
on our campus; develop the tools, skills, and practices needed to engage
constructively with one another; and broaden the intellectual and
viewpoint diversity within our community;
- affirm the rights and responsibilities we
share; respect free speech and dissent while also ensuring that protest
occurs in a time, place, and manner that does not interfere with teaching,
learning, and research; and enhance the consistency and fairness of
disciplinary processes; and
- work together to find ways, consistent
with law, to foster and support a vibrant community that exemplifies,
respects, and embraces difference. As we do, we will also continue to
comply with Students For Fair Admissions v. Harvard, which
ruled that Title VI of the Civil Rights Act makes it unlawful for
universities to make decisions “on the basis of race.”
These ends will not be
achieved by assertions of power, unmoored from the law, to control teaching and
learning at Harvard and to dictate how we operate. The work of addressing our
shortcomings, fulfilling our commitments, and embodying our values is ours to
define and undertake as a community. Freedom of thought and inquiry, along with
the government’s longstanding commitment to respect and protect it, has enabled
universities to contribute in vital ways to a free society and to healthier,
more prosperous lives for people everywhere. All of us share a stake in
safeguarding that freedom. We proceed now, as always, with the conviction that
the fearless and unfettered pursuit of truth liberates humanity—and with faith
in the enduring
promise that America’s colleges and universities hold for our
country and our world.
Sincerely,
Alan M. Garber
- Published on April 14, 2025
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