INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
However, the most striking aspect of the letter is the complete shift in tone about diversity
After having presented Harvard's existing diversity efforts as the antithesis of a merit-based approach, it suddenly demands that the
university enforce what it terms viewpoint diversity
Harvard is directed to "audit the student body, faculty, staff, and leadership for viewpoint diversity, such that each department, field, or
teaching unit must be individually viewpoint diverse." Any department that fails the audit would be required to start hiring new faculty
until it can pass the undefined standards demanded by the feds.Again, all this is being presented as necessary for Harvard to continue
receiving research funds.The university has decided these demands force it to fight, and it's attacking on two fronts
The first is public-facing; Harvard has turned its homepage into a tribute to its researchers and the work they pursue
Although it starts with a huge banner article as shown here, links to 30 individual articles on research fill the entire page
I have a fairly high-resolution screen, and it took hitting page-down nine times to finally reach the bottom, where a handful of links to
the rest of the university finally appear
The message is clear: The research that's under threat matters, and humanity will be worse off if its funding is cut.
Harvard
University's homepage on April 14, 2025.
Credit:
Harvard
Separately,
Harvard's legal response, which it made public today, is basically: nope
After detailing the steps the university has already taken to address antisemitism, it gets to the crux of the issue: "your letter
recognized by the Supreme Court." The harms these demands are meant to address, the letter alleges, haven't actually been demonstrated
through processes that are required by law.
