Op Eds
Dear President Gay, Don’t Forget About Us
As President Gay addresses Congress about antisemitism on our campus, she must not forget the ongoing climate of fear and intimidation facing Harvard’s Muslim, Arab, and Palestinian communities.
Harvard Must Find Its Moral Clarity
As a Harvard alumna, I believe we must demand that the most well-recognized and preeminent higher education institution in the world rediscover its moral clarity and eliminate antisemitism from its campus.
With Previous-Term Registration, Administrators Put Themselves First
I am convinced that the FAS simply does not care what undergraduate students think.
The Harvard Law Review’s Palestine Exception
The Palestine exception is destructive, it chills speech and progress, and it is now clear that it has reached one of the highest ivory towers in the United States.
How Harvard Students Got So Stressed
Kids these days are not alright. The erstwhile pillars of college — self-discovery, exploration, and growth — have given way to an anxious stasis in which students languish in their own fear of failure.
Harvard Is Failing Ukrainian Students
It’s a shame that at a University with so many resources, it’s so difficult to get support for a cause that is so clearly in line with its ideals. Harvard has a duty to support its students, especially those whose homelands have been devastated by war.
Disaggregate Our Demographics
Harvard need not specify every minute ethnic distinction within its Asian population, but it should provide a more nuanced and transparent picture.
Forget the Fishbowl
Instead of seeking privacy, I hope we can start by reflecting on why people feel so strongly about seeing their opinions reflected on our campus.
Taking Responsibility for Our Silence When Speaking Is Hard
The Crimson Editorial Board should never perch quietly above the issues that impact our community. When our campus suffers, we must speak.
Tackling Harvard’s Settler Colonialism
Our University’s promise to Indigenous communities in the original charter remains unkept. Only by addressing its past can Harvard create a better future for its Indigenous students and foster reconciliation with affected tribes.
The Missing Link
Letting students link is important — undoubtedly more for some than for others. But it’s also important to raise the low bar for transparency to which Harvard seems to hold itself.
Black Harvard Freshmen, You Belong Here.
Black students have the experiences, intellect, and determination to succeed at prestigious universities. It is time for us, Black Harvard freshmen, to believe in our prosperity.
We’re Harvard’s Jews for Liberation. Our Grief Will Not Be Weaponized.
We unequivocally condemn Hamas’ attacks on Oct. 7. However, in the wake of this violence, we are frustrated by the weaponization of Jewish grief to silence Palestinian and anti-Zionist voices, as well as to justify continued violence in Gaza and the West Bank.
Let’s Talk About Social Media Silence
The mere act of posting, especially when an enormous social pressure exists to do so, is not a proxy for how much one cares. Let’s not confuse a decision not to post with a decision never to care.
I Didn’t Know There Were ‘Fake’ Latinos
In Queens, “Latino” doesn’t have a clear definition. That’s why I was shocked when I was called a fake Latino during my first week at Harvard.
A ‘Research University’ or ‘Research College’?
I want Harvard to take a look at their thriving undergraduate research culture, and ask themselves why they cultivate this love and passion in their students only to funnel them into years of graduate research at unlivable salaries.
Why Oatly Frozen Yogurt Is Not Enough
It’s certainly possible to be vegan on campus – it’s just not a lot of fun. If our University’s mission is to educate the “citizen-leaders” of society, perhaps it should help its alumni lead by the composition of their character and also their plates.
Gun Violence Is a Human Rights Issue
Gun violence is often framed as an issue of mental well-being or unfettered gun access. But why don’t we also view it as a human rights issue?
Bring Back Shutting Up: An Elegy for Mindfulness
For a moment, silence your selfishness and believe. Believe that being a Harvard community could really mean something great — something always to be proud of. Believe that you could be the catalyst for the renaissance this community has been waiting for.
Harvard Needs an Urban Studies Department
Harvard should support students wishing to explore the ever-relevant subject of urban studies. Doing so will enhance students’ understanding of the liberal arts, equip them with tools to resolve grave threats to sustainability and quality of life — and teach them to feel less ashamed the next time they jaywalk.
How Education Is Failing Young Men
I worry about the world that kids around me are being born into. The position of men is not just a men’s issue, just as feminism is not just a women’s issue. And education serves as the foundation upon which change is built. It’s time Harvard invested in it.
This Year’s Most Important Election is Down the Street
A mere 185 votes decided the most recent Cambridge City Council election. This Tuesday, students have significantly more power to redefine our city’s future than many believe.
What It Means to Fit In at Harvard
Coming to Harvard is an adjustment for everyone, but those who come from wealth have a leg up: They already know how to navigate the nuances of an Ivy League school.
Can Protest Be Undemocratic?
Protest, when conducted in the spirit of illuminating marginalized voices, is not undemocratic. It is a symptom that calls us to listen to the silenced voices that cry out.
The Possible Perpetrator in Your Crimson Cart
The Harvard administration’s pattern of punishing professors who have violated sexual harassment policies by putting them on temporary leave, and then quietly allowing them to come back relatively unscathed, further endangers younger students who may be unaware of their professors’ checkered histories.