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Category: Op-Ed

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Embrace Intellectual Vitality, Don’t Dismiss It

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Harvard has a discourse problem. Just look at last year’s senior survey, which reported that only 36 percent of students felt comfortable expressing opposing views on controversial topics in courses. There’s no quick way to create a culture where students feel comfortable engaging in open, honest dialogue. But Harvard’s new intellectual vitality initiative is a good start….

What is at stake in Intellectual Vitality?

  • Publication date July 8, 2024
  • Categories: Op-Ed
The image shows a classroom or lecture hall filled with students. The students are seated in tiered rows, typically found in large lecture halls. Most of the students have laptops open in front of them and appear to be taking notes or following along with a lecture. The setting suggests it is a higher education environment, such as a university or college. The students are dressed casually, and the atmosphere seems focused and studious.

In April 2024, 200 students (across all class years) joined a town hall in Quincy dining hall to talk about their experience at Harvard: what is going well and what could be better? Brilliantly moderated by dedicated graduating seniors, students engaged in some “think, pair, shares” and flash polls. The results: students feel overwhelmingly fortunate…