Ethnic or Cultural Groups
Harvard Juniors Harris and Omotowa Named 2021 Truman Scholars
Araoluwa P. Omotowa ’22 and Undergraduate Council President Noah A. Harris ’22 were selected for their “outstanding leadership potential” and their record of public service. The scholarship entitles them to up to $30,000 in funding for post-graduate studies as well as special opportunities for government employment, per the scholarship’s website.
Harvard Foundation Honors Taraji Henson with 2021 Artist of the Year Award
The Harvard Foundation for Intercultural and Race Relations awarded actress, director, and producer Taraji P. Henson the Artist of the Year award at its annual Cultural Rhythms event earlier this month.
Harvard South Asian Association Prepares for First All-Virtual Ghungroo Event
Ghungroo, Harvard’s annual celebration of South Asian cultures, will be held entirely virtually this Saturday for the first time in its over 30 years of production.
Peabody Museum Apologizes For Practices Around Native American Cultural Objects, Announces Policy Changes
Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology administrators apologized for the “pain” the museum caused by its refusal to voluntarily return certain funerary objects to Native American tribes and pledged to reverse the policy in response to a letter from the Association on American Indian Affairs last month criticizing the museum.
Asian American Cultural Groups Hold Vigil for AAPI Victims of Hate Crimes
A number of Harvard’s Asian and Asian American cultural groups held a virtual vigil Thursday night for victims of hate crimes against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.
Black Men’s Forum Discusses Black Womanhood, Black Artistry with Nia Long
Award-winning actress Nia T. Long discussed her artistry as an actress and her experiences as a Black woman in the film industry during a webinar hosted by the Harvard Black Men’s Forum Monday.
Harvard University Native American Program Celebrates 50th Anniversary, Plans for the Future
As the Harvard University Native American Program celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, program affiliates said they aim to continue and grow its mission to support Indigenous students on campus in the years to come.
Native American Nonprofit Accuses Harvard of Violating Federal Graves Protection and Repatriation Act
The Association on American Indian Affairs sent a letter to University President Lawrence S. Bacow in February alleging that Harvard is in violation of the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act.
Surviving ‘Comfort Woman’, Activists Speak at Law School Panel Aimed at ‘Debunking Denialism’
Lee Yong-soo, a surviving “comfort woman” and activist, and other advocates for comfort women spoke at a virtual roundtable hosted by Harvard Law students Tuesday evening.
Harvard and Stanford Native American Programs Host 50th Anniversary Panel Discussion
The Harvard University Native American Program, Stanford’s Native American Studies Program, and Stanford’s Native American Cultural Center jointly hosted prominent Indigenous scholars at a panel discussion in celebration of their programs’ 50th anniversaries on Thursday.
Harvard Cultural Groups Look to Build On Successes of Virtual Fall Semester
Members of the Class of 2024 had limited social interaction in the fall semester due to most facets of campus life — classes, extracurriculars, socials — being rendered virtual. Still, they said, campus cultural groups played an important role in supporting their transition to college life.
Biden Victory Elicits Relief and Reservations Among Student Advocates
Following President-elect Joseph R. Biden Jr.’s election, many of Harvard’s student affinity and advocacy groups expressed both relief and reservations about the incoming administration.
Student Groups Celebrate Latinx Heritage Month
From group discussions with guest politicians to relaxed virtual gatherings, student organizations celebrated Latinx Heritage Month between September 15 and October 15 by discussing Latinx perspectives, highlighting underrepresented voices, and facilitating community building,
Amid Criticism, Jewish Harvard Students Create Pro-Palestinian Rights Group
The coalition bills itself as an “anti-Zionist Jewish organization” focused on countering anti-Semitism through solidarity with marginalized groups, and creating spaces and events for Jewish students outside of Harvard Hillel, according to a public statement on the organization’s Facebook page.
City Council Calls on Parliament of India to Repeal Citizenship Amendment Act, Stop National Register of Citizens
The Cambridge City Council passed a resolution Monday calling on the Parliament of India to repeal the Citizenship Amendment Act and end the National Register of Citizens.
Scholars Criticize Bacow’s Response to Their Letter Demanding Review of Prof’s Tenure Case
A group of more than 200 senior scholars from across the United States is dissatisfied with University President Lawrence S. Bacow’s response to their letter decrying associate Romance Languages and Literatures professor Lorgia García Peña’s tenure denial, according to a statement the group released Thursday.
Bacow Says He Has Never Reversed a Tenure Decision in Response to García Peña Backlash
Amid controversy over the tenure denial of associate professor Lorgia García Peña, University President Lawrence S. Bacow said he has never reversed a tenure decision during his time at Harvard, nor did he as president of Tufts.
Khurana Offers Support for Formalized Ethnic Studies Program
Dean of the College Rakesh Khurana said in an interview Tuesday that he supports Harvard undergraduates’ calls for a formalized ethnic studies program.
Ethnic Studies Banner
Students hold an Ethnic Studies sign outside Widener Library during a rally on Friday.
Hundreds of Ethnic Studies Scholars Sign Letters Condemning Prof’s Tenure Denial
Hundreds of ethnic studies scholars within and outside Harvard signed two letters condemning the University’s decision to deny tenure to Romance Languages and Literatures associate professor Lorgia García Peña.
Harvard Ethnic Studies Coalition and Grad Student Union Rally Together in Protest of Prof’s Tenure Denial
Hundreds of Harvard affiliates crowded on the steps of Widener Library Thursday to protest the decision to deny Romance Languages and Literatures associate professor Lorgia García Peña tenure and demand an ethnic studies program.
Ethnic Studies Advocates Interrupt Faculty Meeting, Denounce Tenure Denial Decision
An individual protesting Harvard’s decision to deny tenure to Romance Languages and Literatures associate professor Lorgia García Peña stood silently inside the Faculty of Arts and Sciences meeting Tuesday while dozens of students demonstrated outside.
Whales Lecture
Bathsheba Demuth, Assistant Professor of History and Environment and Society at Brown University, spoke Wednesday evening about the ethics of human interaction with whales and the consequences the actions humans take.
Gay Announces Plans to Hire New Ethnic Studies Faculty
Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences Claudine Gay will hire three to four senior faculty to specialize in Asian American, Latinx, and Muslim American studies during the upcoming academic year, the University announced Monday.
Hundreds Call on Harvard to Review Prof. Ragab Tenure Denial
Hundreds of Harvard students and alumni have signed a letter criticizing Harvard Divinity School’s decision not to grant tenure to Ahmed Ragab, who they say is the first Muslim faculty member at the school to come up for tenure.