The Photos That Captured 2025

n a year characterized by national-scrutiny, Crimson photojournalists documented moments from celebration to defiance at Harvard and beyond. Here, The Crimson revisits a selection of photographs that defined 2025 at Harvard.

In February, actor Cynthia Erivo was honored as Harvard's Hasty Pudding Theatricals’ 75th Woman of the Year. The celebration included a parade through Harvard Square, a roast and press conference, and a performance of the Pudding’s 176th production “101 Damnations”.

Around 100 people attended a vigil held in Science Center Plaza in late February, organized by Harvard Hillel, Harvard Chabad, and the Harvard Jewish Coalition after Hamas returned four bodies to Israel. Attendees surrounded four candle-lit hearts to honor Shiri Bibas, her two sons Ariel and Kfir, and Oded Lifshitz, who were taken hostage during the Oct. 7, 2023 attack.

In March, more than 500 researchers, physicians, and students gathered at Boston Common in response to President Donald Trump’s efforts to cut federal funding for scientific research, lay off federal employees, and eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives at universities.

After finishing the regular season with a 22-4 record, the Harvard women’s basketball team had two upset victories in the Ivy League’s postseason tournament, leading to its first-ever championship win and return to March Madness for the first time since 2007. The Crimson later fell 64-50 to Michigan State in the NCAA tournament, with senior Harmoni Turner leading the team with 24 points.

In the early morning hours of Housing Day, students from Lowell House crowded the John Harvard statue. The College has since announced that starting in 2026, Housing Day will be held on the Friday following spring break — more than a week later than the traditional Thursday before break.

In April, more than 500 Harvard affiliates and Cambridge residents rallied on the steps of Memorial Church in support of international students after the Trump administration threatened to revoke the University’s eligibility to host them.

Former Dean of Harvard College Rakesh Khurana joined the Class of 2025 in celebration of Commencement by snapping a selfie with cheering students during the undergraduate procession. The ceremony capped Khurana’s decade-long tenure in Harvard’s administration, though not his final signature selfie.

As first-year move-in preparations began in August, Harvard President Alan M. Garber ‘70 and his wife, Dr. Anne Yahanda, spoke with Faculty of Arts and Sciences Dean Hopi E. Hoekstra and new Dean of Harvard College David J. Deming in front of Mass Hall.

Students returned to campus while Boston prepared for its ongoing battle with the White House as Trump hinted at a federal takeover of Boston’s South Station, similar to Union Station in Washington, D.C. This proposal was strongly rejected by Boston’s Mayor Michelle Wu ‘07, who had made it clear that the city would not yield its autonomy to the Trump administration.

During the first week of the semester, hundreds of undergraduates packed Harvard Yard to hear pop-punk singer Bryce Vine perform at Crimson Jam, the annual concert hosted by the Harvard College Events Board.

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu ’07 was reelected to a second term after appearing as the sole candidate on the general elections ballot. Following the September preliminary election, Wu held a rally at Adams Park in Roslindale, where she addressed supporters and watched the results that advanced her to the general election.

In September, more than 100 students and faculty gathered on the steps of Widener Library for a vigil honoring right-wing activist Charlie Kirk following his shooting at a public debate at Utah Valley University. Organized by Harvard Law School students and publicized by several conservative student groups, the vigil featured speakers who described Kirk’s activism as a model for college campus debate.

The Music 110 Orchestra opened its 2025-2026 season in early October with “A Night of Mahler.” The concert moved forward without the Harvard-Radcliffe Orchestra name after the group was suspended by Harvard College for the fall semester amid an investigation into alleged hazing. Following an appeal, the Dean of Students Office removed findings of hazing and reinstated the HRO name, but upheld the fall suspension and placed the orchestra on probation for the spring.

Thousands of athletes, alumni, and spectators attended the 60th anniversary of the The Head of the Charles Regatta. The Harvard-Radcliffe lightweight team won the Women’s Lightweight 8+ race, pulling ahead of Princeton in the final stretch to secure a six-second victory before jumping into the Charles River in celebration.

Crimson photographers captured portraits of eight international students profiled by Fifteen Minute Magazine amid President Donald Trump's escalating attacks on Harvard’s administration. After the Department of Homeland Security revoked Harvard’s Student and Exchange Visitor program in May, Harvard sued the Trump administration. Trump later issued a proclamation banning travelers on Harvard-sponsored visas from entering the country, leaving nearly 6,800 international students in uncertainty.

Harvard and Yale faced off in New Haven this fall for the 141st playing of The Game, with Yale taking a 45-28 victory. Despite the loss, senior quarterback Jaden Craig ended a standout season, leading the Crimson to a 9-1 regular-season record and set records as the Crimson’s all time leader in both passing yards and touchdown passes before entering the transfer portal midyear.

In late October, more than 100,000 people gathered at Boston Common for the No Kings protest, part of a nationwide day of action opposing President Donald Trump and his administration’s policies. Counterprotester Shawn Nelson filmed the crowd on a livestream, later being protected by volunteers who clasped their hands together and formed a circle to transport Nelson through the crowd.

In early December, the Harvard men’s ice hockey team secured the late-game victory over the Yale Bulldogs in its second game against an Ivy League opponent this season – preparing them for the upcoming Beanpot tournament in TD Garden in 2026.