My oldest is a senior at Harvard College and reported the undergraduate student body responded with tremendous support of Harvard’s decision. Sets a precedent! These incredible students are our future, pulled from every state in the nation, along with numerous international students. Agree with you, best and brightest in virtually every field, be it medicine, law, economics, government, literature, or the other sciences.
My hope is that more organizations and companies will do the same. It was frightening to hear him say that he may put homegrown people in a foreign jail.
Jeremy, a reason to stand proud with your alma mater, especially when so many individuals, and institutions are caving in to this oligarchy/dictatorship. Strong shades of Nazi Germany. I don't use these terms and descriptions lightly. Instead, Harvard is removing itself from the "Ivory Tower" syndrome that so many orgs and institutions suffer from either by staying silent or succumbing to extortion. Appreciate your description as a med student there, your access to great minds fulfilling your necessary curiosity (a necessary component to life-long ed and practice). That, in addition to this open strong action of courage by Harvard demonstrates their commitment to the med students they send out into the world long after they graduate. In this it all translates into the outcome which should be the most prominent priority of of ed institutions, students, and practitioners...BETTER HEALTHCARE FOR PATIENTS.
I would have been more impressed had not Harvard been part of the suppression of pro-Palestinian viewpoints for the past year. The cancellation of the class on Medicine in War, for instance, which included Palestinians currently in Boston being treated for war injuries (Harvard Crimson, Jan 23, 2025) or suspending library privileges for pro-Palestinian students and staff "silently reading materials related to free speech while propping up signs about dissent and University policy next to them or taped to the back of their laptops" (Assoc Press, Oct 28, 2024).
Now that the University itself is threatened it is suddenly pro free speech.
While I appreciate their current stance, it is the previous stance that has assisted the erosion of First Amendment rights that has brought us to this place.
I felt elated to read your article. Hearing that Harvard has taken a stand against the ludicrous demands being placed upon them made me feel uplifted and proud.
Thrilled to see our most prestigious University standing up to the bully! I hope Harvard stays strong! It’s not over..!
Let’s all remember, that Harvard’s example is essential but ——- Harvard is well endowed & has an Alumni list that is unlike any other in money, power, prestige & influence! I hope Harvard now takes the next step to offer support to other Universities that lack the resources both financial & influential! Hang in there, set the bar & help the next generation….! You can do it!
My husband trained at Mass General when dinosaurs roamed the earth. He continued to do consults and teaching over the years at the hospital. We couldn't be more proud. If not Harvard standing up to autocracy, then who?
We also chose to spend our lives around smart people and lived most of our adult lives in Cambridge and its suburbs. One day we were at the kid’s bus stop and a bunch of TV news trucks sped around the corner. A parent said, “Oh, the guy in the third house won a Nobel prize.” As if this was a normal thing.
My oldest is a senior at Harvard College and reported the undergraduate student body responded with tremendous support of Harvard’s decision. Sets a precedent! These incredible students are our future, pulled from every state in the nation, along with numerous international students. Agree with you, best and brightest in virtually every field, be it medicine, law, economics, government, literature, or the other sciences.
My hope is that more organizations and companies will do the same. It was frightening to hear him say that he may put homegrown people in a foreign jail.
“I've been waiting for a major university to take a stand like this. I am thrilled that mine did.”
Thanks Harvard ❣️✨🇺🇸and Jeremy Faust, MD❣️
Jeremy, a reason to stand proud with your alma mater, especially when so many individuals, and institutions are caving in to this oligarchy/dictatorship. Strong shades of Nazi Germany. I don't use these terms and descriptions lightly. Instead, Harvard is removing itself from the "Ivory Tower" syndrome that so many orgs and institutions suffer from either by staying silent or succumbing to extortion. Appreciate your description as a med student there, your access to great minds fulfilling your necessary curiosity (a necessary component to life-long ed and practice). That, in addition to this open strong action of courage by Harvard demonstrates their commitment to the med students they send out into the world long after they graduate. In this it all translates into the outcome which should be the most prominent priority of of ed institutions, students, and practitioners...BETTER HEALTHCARE FOR PATIENTS.
I would have been more impressed had not Harvard been part of the suppression of pro-Palestinian viewpoints for the past year. The cancellation of the class on Medicine in War, for instance, which included Palestinians currently in Boston being treated for war injuries (Harvard Crimson, Jan 23, 2025) or suspending library privileges for pro-Palestinian students and staff "silently reading materials related to free speech while propping up signs about dissent and University policy next to them or taped to the back of their laptops" (Assoc Press, Oct 28, 2024).
Now that the University itself is threatened it is suddenly pro free speech.
While I appreciate their current stance, it is the previous stance that has assisted the erosion of First Amendment rights that has brought us to this place.
I felt elated to read your article. Hearing that Harvard has taken a stand against the ludicrous demands being placed upon them made me feel uplifted and proud.
Thrilled to see our most prestigious University standing up to the bully! I hope Harvard stays strong! It’s not over..!
Let’s all remember, that Harvard’s example is essential but ——- Harvard is well endowed & has an Alumni list that is unlike any other in money, power, prestige & influence! I hope Harvard now takes the next step to offer support to other Universities that lack the resources both financial & influential! Hang in there, set the bar & help the next generation….! You can do it!
My husband trained at Mass General when dinosaurs roamed the earth. He continued to do consults and teaching over the years at the hospital. We couldn't be more proud. If not Harvard standing up to autocracy, then who?
We also chose to spend our lives around smart people and lived most of our adult lives in Cambridge and its suburbs. One day we were at the kid’s bus stop and a bunch of TV news trucks sped around the corner. A parent said, “Oh, the guy in the third house won a Nobel prize.” As if this was a normal thing.
Thank you, Jeremy--keep it up!
I would welcome your thoughts/reactions to this post from Heterodox Academy (HxA):
https://open.substack.com/pub/heterodoxacademy/p/harvard-showed-a-spine-now-comes?r=tbkzj&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false