Harvard in the City
City Council Votes to Terminate Contracts With Companies Allegedly Violating Human Rights, Drawing Criticism from Harvard Jewish Leaders
The Cambridge City Council voted to end its contract with companies that “perpetuate violations of International Human Rights Laws” during a Tuesday meeting that followed more than seven hours of public comment the previous day.
Anticipating Fall Return to Campus, Students Reflect on the Impact of Off-Campus Living During Covid-19
Though during any typical year students would not hesitate to accept their spot in their House, this year students must weigh the benefits of residential House life — a hallmark of the Harvard College experience — with newfound joys they experienced living outside the Harvard bubble.
Construction Mitigation, Beautification Top of Mind at Barry’s Corner Development Meeting
In their fourth virtual meeting with the Harvard-Allston Task Force Tuesday, the developers of 180 Western Ave. shared updated plans for mitigating construction and fostering public spaces. Some task force members and locals, however, remain worried about the impact that construction at Barry’s Corner might have.
Student-Run Homeless Shelter Y2Y Maintains Reduced Operations Under Covid-19 Safety Measures
Y2Y Harvard Square, a youth homeless shelter staffed by Harvard students, has continued to accommodate guests under modified protocols this semester despite the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, while also recruiting volunteers online and facilitating vaccine distribution for guests and staff.
Boston Water and Sewer Commission, Stakeholders Weigh Embattled North Allston Drainpipe Expansion
Boston Water and Sewer Commission chief engineer John P. Sullivan justified the BWSC’s plans to proceed with the controversial Harvard-funded North Allston Drainpipe Expansion Project in a virtual meeting with local politicians, Allston residents, and University representatives Monday.
Junior Justin Y. Tseng ’22 Seeks Medford City Council Seat, Breaking Racial and Age Barriers
As Justin Y. Tseng ’22 approaches his senior year, he is embarking on a job search that looks quite different from that of a typical rising senior. In late March, he announced his run for Medford City Council with the goal of serving the town he calls home.
PILOT Payments
Local activists and elected officials are attempting to reform the state's Payment in Lieu of Taxes programs.
As Momentum Builds For PILOT Reform, Local Advocates Host Town Hall
Massachusetts Action for PILOT, a coalition of local advocacy groups focused on reforming PILOT, invited elected officials and residents to discuss H. 3080 and H.D. 2068, the two bills intended to reform PILOT.
A ‘Financial Vaccine’: Cambridge Launches Guaranteed Income Pilot Program
Cambridge will pilot a guaranteed income program, doling out $500 no-strings-attached monthly payments to 120 eligible, low-income families for 18 months starting in August.
HMS To Launch Office Supporting ‘Community-Centered’ Student Outreach
To support Harvard Medical School students’ efforts to provide medical resources and knowledge to the greater public, Harvard Medical School will launch an office for “community-centered medical education” in fall 2021.
Proposed Mass. Bill Would Make PILOT Payments Mandatory for Harvard, Other Institutions
The Massachusetts House is considering a bill that would make the previously optional payments which supplanted city property taxes for nonprofits such as Harvard mandatory.
Harvard-Funded North Allston Drainpipe Expansion Confronts Political Challenge
As the Boston Water and Sewer Commission and Harvard proceed with the North Allston Storm Drain Extension Project — an estimated $50 million endeavor that the University has pledged to fully fund — local politicians, residents, and environmental groups have called for further investigation into its potential environmental impacts.
Harvard Researchers and Home Improvement Experts Talk Housing in the Aftermath of Covid-19 in Panel Discussion
Harvard researchers and home improvement industry representatives discussed the recent remodeling boom and widening housing inequities — both linked to the Covid-19 pandemic — in an event hosted by the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies and the Kennedy School’s Taubman Center for State and Local Government on Thursday.
Sustainability, Public Space of Barry’s Corner Development Steer Discussion at Harvard-Allston Task Force Meeting
The Harvard-Allston Task Force and the developers of the Harvard-owned land at 180 Western Ave. mulled the project’s public spaces and sustainability at a virtual meeting Tuesday.
The City Approval Process Behind Harvard’s Expansion into Allston
In 2000, Harvard submitted the sole bid to the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority to claim 48-acres of dormant land in Allston. After securing the large tract of land for the lofty sum of $151,751,636, Harvard officially owned more property in Allston than it did in Cambridge.
Cambridge City Council Advances Petition Proposing Investment in Affordable Housing, Infrastructure in Alewife
Cambridge City Council advanced a zoning amendment for the Alewife neighborhood to the next round of consideration and received yet another update on the Covid-19 vaccine rollout at a March 1 meeting.
Harvard Is the City of Cambridge’s Largest Employer — For 32nd Time in 35 Years
For the twenty-first consecutive year, Harvard University has been named the largest employer in the City of Cambridge.
Behind Six-Year Harvard Alumni Push, Every Voice Bill Passes to Boost Campus Sexual Assault Prevention
A bill spearheaded by student organizers, including Harvard alumni, to establish protections for survivors of sexual harassment at colleges and universities in Massachusetts beyond existing provisions in Title IX was signed into law by Governor Charlie D. Baker ’79 last month.
Harvard Square Businesses Welcome the Return of Students
As students trickle back into Cambridge for the spring semester, Harvard Square business owners said they are hoping to see sales pick back up after a challenging year and quiet winter break.
As Harvard Development Continues, Allston Residents Worry About Neighborhood Stability, Affordability
As the University forges ahead with construction in Allston, some residents said they are worried about how the new projects — the Enterprise Research Campus and a development at 180 Western Ave. — will impact neighborhood stability and affordability.
In Annual Report to the City, Harvard Highlights Its Outreach to Local Residents During Pandemic
Harvard representatives outlined sustainability, diversity and inclusion, and resident outreach initiatives during the annual Town Gown report to Cambridge.
Harvard and the Biden Administration
As Joe Biden is inaugurated as the 46th U.S. president Wednesday, a team of Crimson reporters explored how the Biden administration will affect international students, admissions, labor, and everything in between at Harvard. Here's a look at how the Biden administration will reshape the University — and what role Harvard will play in shaping it.
Harvard Saw Increase in Bias Crime Reports, Decrease in Reported Rapes During 2019
Reports of on-campus bias crimes jumped in 2019, while reported rapes on campus declined for the third consecutive year, Harvard’s annual security report published Friday by the University’s police force showed.
Campus Sexual Violence Bill Expected to Pass State House
The Every Voice bill, which would mandate additional support structures for sexual violence survivors beyond existing Title IX provisions, is pending a vote in the Massachusetts State House.
Harvard Advocates for 'Robust Evaluation' of 'At Grade' Approach for Mass. Pike Section
As the Massachusetts Department of Transportation weighs its options for redesigning the Massachusetts Turnpike, University spokesperson Kevin Casey wrote in an emailed statement that the school hopes the state will thoroughly evaluate “an alternative all at grade approach.”