Layla L. Hijjawi
Latest Articles
The Media Must Stop Oversimplifying Harvard
When national media outlets cherry-pick evidence to lambast rampant antisemitism or lack of rigor at Harvard, this coverage helps lay the justificatory groundwork for such attacks. Harvard may be an easy target due to its perceived elitism, but the downstream consequences are dire.
Want to File a Discrimination Complaint? Good Luck.
If the College is not going to pursue an investigation into the Salient’s vile speech — even when they are aware it occurred — without a complaint being filed, the University needs to substantially revise its procedure for filing those complaints.
Harvard’s Hazing Crackdown Strikes the Wrong Chord
Against the backdrop of Harvard’s vague policies and lackluster training, the HRO suspension seems downright cruel and unusual. The College’s openness to conversations with student leaders to answer questions about initiation traditions is a good first step. But the University needs to do more to avoid a repeat of the HRO fiasco.
Trump Is Suppressing Campus Speech. Harvard’s Response Is Shameful.
Harvard must stand up to prevent its community and other universities from falling. To do anything else is to sacrifice the values and mission it has fiercely defended since its founding.
Low Classroom Engagement? Blame Course Registration, Not Students.
Ultimately, we are students, not superhumans. Drastic administrative interventions that place excessive blame and unreasonable expectations on students represent a deeply imperfect attempt to boost student engagement.
Clubs Offer a ‘Transformative’ Education — Just Not the Ones You’d Think
Nothing will change us as profoundly as the hundreds of extracurricular opportunities offered to us the moment we step on campus — so long as we have the courage to choose them well.
Alan Garber’s Harvard Won’t Be Perfect, but It Should Be Transparent
President Garber and the Corporation can continue to silo themselves from the Harvard community and hope for a different result, or they can engage with it.
To Vote or Not to Vote? There’s No Question
While young people face numerous barriers to voting, Harvard students possess a unique edge. Given this advantage, we have fewer excuses not to vote — and vote properly.