News

Building momentum on open inquiry

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Professor of Government Eric Beerbohm asked a packed Sanders Theatre audience of first-years to debate a provocative question: How do we value our friends who disagree with us? The question stemmed from a dining hall conversation he had with a student in Quincy House, where he serves as faculty dean, about how to maintain a…

Princeton leader defends campus free speech efforts amid ‘civic crisis’

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U.S. colleges and universities have for the most part done a good job protecting and promoting campus discourse in recent years, according to Princeton President Christopher Eisgruber. They have not, however, escaped the divisions affecting institutions and communities across the country. Read more in The Harvard Gazette…

The Good Life

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What makes a good life? Who gets to decide what constitutes wellbeing? The evening of November 12th, Professor Jeff Miron and Associate Professor Adaner Usmani shared their thoughts on preference satisfaction and welfare economics before a riveted audience of students and faculty. Miron, who has advocated for libertarian policies such as legalizing all drugs, and…

We Lead the Intellectual Vitality Initiative. Harvard Needs To Set Its Standards Higher.

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Harvard has a peculiar gift for turning self-reflection into spectacle. The University’s latest act of introspection — a report on grade inflation — was meant to provide context for ongoing conversations about recentering academics. Instead it has taken campus by storm, but not for the reason you think. Read more in The Harvard Crimson…

Independence for Sale: Unpacking Harvard’s Response to the Trump Administration (Pt. II)

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A Panel Moderated by Professor Ned Hall with Guests Professors Rakesh Khurana and Julie Reuben On the evening of Thursday October 23, students, faculty, and community members gathered in the Leverett Library Theater for a reprised discussion on Harvard’s response to the Trump administration. This time, attendees heard from former Dean Khurana and Professor Julie…

Harvard Takes on Generative AI: Parents’ Weekend Intellectual Vitality Keynote

A group of people sitting on a stage.

A Panel with Professors Dean Amanda Claybough, Dean David Deming, Professor Marc Aidinoff, Professor Moira Weigel, and Professor Elena Glassman On Saturday October 25th, as a part of Family Weekend, students and their families gathered in Sanders Theatre for a moderated panel conversation on how Harvard should understand and adapt to the increasing usage of…

Applicants: Improving Harvard’s Speech Culture is Worth the Hassle

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“Describe a time when you strongly disagreed with someone about an idea or issue. How did you communicate or engage with this person? What did you learn from this experience?” This is the most recently updated supplemental essay for applicants to Harvard College. With Harvard’s Restrictive Early Action deadline less than a month away, applicants…